Chris Cantell Discusses Science: Astronauts handle explosives on daring spacewalk by Paulina Neshybova

On Thursday two space station Russian astronauts Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko had to handle with dangerous problems. During a daring sapcewalk these two men disconnected an explosive bolt from their capsule which had a force of a fireracker.
Immediately they put it into a blast-proof container which should protect the bolt from explosing as it is made of stainless steel. Before their journey to disable the bolt, mission controllers from Moscow told them several times they do not have to fear, becuase the bold according to them is safe, it would not blow and what is more important they need it for their return on the Earth in autumn in Sayuz.
However, interesting is that they warned them several times to be careful with handling the bolt. NASA engineers were convinced that it is not dangerous and they fully adjusted their action while removing the shiny insulation with a serrated knife. After that they are supposed to send it to the international space station where it would be stocked until their return to Earth. Also the director of Russian Mission Control was sure about the safety of this action. He told them that the bold could withstand a lot more than a hit with a hammer.
According to the two Russian astronauts this was really a messy job, as they could be hurt by the floating insulation and the knife, which could perforate their siuts or gloves. In the capsule on the board was also the only American Gregory Chamitoff who for the 6hours waiting for them if they needed help with joining him in the capsule.
NASA has a real interest in Soyuz becuase it sometimes take also the Americans into the space stations until 2015 when they would have new rocketship carrying them.

by Paulina Neshybova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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posted by Lucia Adamova