Russia Cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov And Mikhail Tyurin Staying At The International Space Station Ventured Into Open Space

The RIA Novosti correspondent was informed in the Russian Mission control center in the city of Korolyov (the Moscow region) that on Monday at 18.24 Moscow time Russian cosmonauts from the 2nd permanent expedition at the International Space Station (ISS) Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin went out into open space. The Mission control center representatives stated that "the objective of their operation was to make operational the docking unit "Pirs" delivered earlier to the station by the Russian cargo spacecraft "Progress" and fixed to its surface. Subsequently Russian manned and cargo spacecraft will dock to this unit". The Mission control center representatives reported that Frank Culbertson, American astronaut and commander of the 2nd permanent ISS expedition, was monitoring actions of the Russian cosmonauts from the Russian cargo module "Zarya"and in case of necessity was prepared to go out to them into space to render assistance. The cosmonauts are expected to return to the station at 22.30 Moscow time. Their work in space is being taped by a TV camera installed at the surface of the station.