Two Russian cosmonauts on board the International Space Station, Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev began a spacewalk from the Poisk airlock on the International Space Station on 18 April 2022. The airlock was depressurized at 1433 GMT and the hatch was opened at 1501 GMT spacewalk VKD-52. The spacewalk ended at 2137 GMT with the Poisk hatch being closed, and its repressurisation began at 2144 GMT. During the Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA), the spacewalkers made preparations ahead of the fitment and operation of the European Robot Arm including the positioning of the EMMI control computer which allows spacewalking astronauts to control the arm which is currently still attached (unassembled) to the Nauka module.
The cooperation was surprising as ESA and NASA nations are at loggerheads with Russia over its aggressive war in Ukraine. This has terminated or hindered many joint space projects including the planned ExoMars rover and lander mission.
All times from Jonathan McDowell
Cosmonauts Artemyev and Matveev on their spacewalk on 18 April 2022. Courtesy: NASA
