Tim Peake set for first spacewalk

Astronaut Tim Peake will take on his first spacewalk when he exits the International Space Station next week to carry out repairs.
Tim Peake says he's 'thrilled' to be doing his first spacewalkTim Peake says he's 'thrilled' to be doing his first spacewalk
Tim Peake says he's 'thrilled' to be doing his first spacewalk

Major Peake, who grew up near Chichester, will join fellow astronaut Tim Kopra in going outside the station to fix a faulty power unit.

The new spacewalk will last around six hours on Friday, January 15, with the two Tims working closely together, according to the European Space Agency’s website.

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Major Peake is quoted as saying: “Our primary task will be to replace a failed Solar Shunt Unit, which transfers electrical power generated by the solar panels.”

The two Tims arrived at the Space Station on December 15 to start a six-month mission.

This will be their second involvement in a spacewalk; Major Peake assisted Tim Kopra and station commander Scott Kelly when they moved an equipment carrier on December 21.

The faulty power unit is relatively easy to replace because it is a simple box that can be removed by undoing one bolt, the ESA said.

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Once done, the spacewalkers will lay cables in advance of new docking ports and reinstall a valve that was removed for the relocation of the Leonardo module last year.

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