Astronauts conduct spacewalk outside space station
This photo provided by NASA shows a tiny Peruvian research satellite, right of center, launched by spacewalking astronauts aboard the International Space Station, Monday, Aug. 18, 2014. The satellite, weighing barely 2 pounds, holds instruments to measure temperature and pressure and cameras that will photograph Earth. (AP Photo/NASA)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Two space station astronauts are taking a spacewalk.
Russians Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemiev ventured out Monday. They will set loose a tiny Peruvian research satellite, install fresh science experiments and retrieve old ones.
The nanosatellite is just 4 inches (10 centimeters) square and barely 2 pounds (less than 1 kilogram). It holds cameras that will aim at Earth. It’s a technological learning experience for the National University of Engineering in Lima.
The satellite is named Chasqui after the Inca messengers who were fleet of foot.
Meanwhile, American spacewalks remain on hold. NASA hoped to resume spacewalks this month after a yearlong investigation but delayed the activity until fall to get fresh spacesuit batteries on board. The SpaceX company will deliver the batteries on a Dragon supply ship next month.
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