Russian Cosmonauts Preparing For Space Walk

Russian cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin are preparing for a space walk. The members of the second long-term expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) will perform it at 1:12 p.m. Moscow time. Officials of the Russian Mission Control (MC) stated that "the objective of this space walk is to initiate the operation of the Russian Pirs docking unit, which had been previously delivered to the ISS. Besides, the cosmonauts will place on the ISS surface scientific and research equipment of the Japanese Space Agency, as well as test exhibits for studying the impact of the open space on certain materials." According to the MC, American astronaut Frank Culbertson, the commander of the expedition, will survey the actions of his Russian colleagues from inside the station. In case of emergency, he will perform a space walk in order to render them help. "The Russian cosmonauts are scheduled to finish all works by 6:52 p.m. Moscow time after a 5.5-hour stay outside the station," MC officials reported.