Spacewalk, early return to Parmitano - Computer Point

Into Italian astronaut must fall prematurely aboard the International Space Station. A loss of fluid in the suit put at risk the continuation of the spacewalk

Rome – The list of tasks to be performed was long, and unfortunately the astronauts Cassidy and Parmitano had to return on board after just an hour and half of extravehicular activity: EVA scheduled for today has been interrupted prematurely when the Italian reported a buildup of moisture inside of his suit, a circumstance in which it is imperative to suspend the operations to ensure the safety of the crew.
It was initially thought to sweat, given that the activity outside the International Space Station requires a lot of physical strength to tighten and loosen bolts wearing a thick spacesuit and in the absence of muscle weight requires a serious commitment. But from the ground have excluded this could be simple sweat, opting instead for a loss in the small reservoir of drinking water that astronauts have available in the suit for drinking. About 500ml of water were scattered, apparently, preventing Parmitano to continue and even to communicate directly with t he control center in Houston: Cassidy, after finding that he was in good health, he waited that fell to finish the work started by his colleague and to follow shortly thereafter.

The challenge in this case of the second EVA in a week, after that of 9 July: operations today would be used to complete the preparation and reconfiguration of the ISS for the arrival of a new Russian module expected in the coming weeks (and whose launch now likely to be postponed), and included various hydraulic and mechanical procedures. At this point, ESA and NASA will schedule a third spacewalk, after ascertaining the origin of the problem in suit Parmitano, to complete these tasks: a setback not just, as the EVA take away a lot of time between preparation and rest, effectively blocking all other activities, including scientific research, to the ISS. ( LA )