Russian cosmonauts` spacewalk cut short due to `bad battery` in spacesuit, both safe - Watch

Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineer Denis Matveev, both of the Russian Space Agency, were told to cut short their spacewalk due to a battery power issue in the former`s Orlan spacesuit.

New Delhi: A Russian cosmonaut, during a spacewalk on Wednesday (August 17, 2022), had to rush back inside the International Space Station due to abnormal battery readings in his spacesuit. Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineer Denis Matveev, both of the Russian Space Agency, were instructed by their flight controllers to cut short their spacewalk due to a battery power issue in the former's Orlan spacesuit. 

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the two cosmonauts were "never in any danger" during the operations.

Matveev, who remained outside for another hour or so, was also asked to cut the spacewalk short since flight rules insist on the buddy system.

"You know, the start was so excellent," Matveev said as he made his way back inside, with some of the robot arm installation work left undone.

They both, however, completed the installation of two cameras on the European robotic arm before the battery voltage in Artemyev's spacesuit suddenly dropped.

NASA said that additional spacewalks are planned to continue outfitting the European robotic arm. 

"The work on the European robotic arm will be used to move spacewalkers and payloads around the Russian segment of the station," the US space agency said.

This, notably, was Artemyev’s seventh spacewalk in his career, and the third for Matveev. 

It was the seventh spacewalk at the station in 2022 and the 252nd spacewalk for space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.