Two Russian cosmonauts, Sergei Prokopiev and Dmitry Petelin, returned to space outside the International Space Station for their third spacewalk of this mission. The operation, broadcast by Roscosmos, showcased the ongoing collaboration in low Earth orbit and the meticulous steps required to prepare experiments in a floating laboratory.
The crew prepared to transfer the airlock necessary for external experiments to the Science module, confirming the careful logistics behind every EVA (extravehicular activity) on the station.
The exit hatch of the Poisk Small Research Module was opened at 11:01 Moscow time, marking the start of a planned 6 hours and 22 minutes outside the ISS for Prokopiev and Petelin. The timing aligns with standard EVA planning, which accounts for suit life support, communications checks, and contingency procedures.
Initial tasks included disconnecting communication cables between the airlock and the Rassvet module, followed by removing the protective screen covering the docking unit. Subsequent steps required unscrewing the protective cover from the passive stabilization device UFP-4 and detaching its targeting case from the airlock, as well as opening the locks that connect the airlock camera to the Rassvet module. These operations ensure clear pathways for equipment movement and reliable connections for power and data.
With the airlock disengaged, the team planned to reposition it to a different module using ERA, the European robotic arm. A control loop was established from inside the ISS, with the third Russian cosmonaut, Andrey Fedyaev, supervising the arm during the maneuver. Prokopiev and Petelin would monitor the process, ensuring the airlock settled precisely at its new location before reconnecting the wiring to the Science module for operational readiness.
Earlier announcements described the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft as undergoing relocation from the Poisk module to the Prichal node module, reflecting the dynamic configuration management required for sustained experiments and crew safety aboard the station (Roscosmos). The sequence illustrates how modular elements are rearranged to optimize lab space, docking access, and maintenance workflows for a long-duration orbital outpost (Roscosmos).