The first commercial spacecraft aren't expected to arrive at the International Space Station until 2017, but the ISS crew is already hard at work preparing for their arrival.
Two U.S astronauts completed the first of three spacewalks Saturday, part of an extensive rewiring mission meant to make the International Space Station ready for the arrival of SpaceX and Boeing's commercial vehicles.
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#Selfie from space! #AstroButch from today's #spacewalk. @AstroTerry can be seen in the reflection of his visor. pic.twitter.com/L3KruJEIbZ— NASA (@NASA) February 22, 2015
After a grueling six and a half hours, U.S astronauts Butch Wilmore and Terry Virts completed the first part of the mission, which required the men to lay about 340 feet of cable outside the space station. The job, which will require the astronauts to run 764 feet of cable, is considered by NASA to be the "most complicated" rewiring in the history of the space station.
Saturday's spacewalk was the first for Virts, who arrived at the space station last November. Virts tweeted several photos documenting the mission.
My first ever spacewalk today- AWESOME!!! pic.twitter.com/yYzQcasJ6L— Terry W. Virts (@AstroTerry) February 22, 2015
On my way inside at the end of a long and successful #spacewalk- thanks #AstroButch for a great pic! pic.twitter.com/4t4RTKEMOy— Terry W. Virts (@AstroTerry) February 22, 2015
The next stages of the mission, which will require two more spacewalks, are expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
(IT) E finalmente verso la fine della #Spacewalk @AstroTerry era visibile dalla Cupola. Ora tempo di tornare dentro! pic.twitter.com/DFFezfuYiw— Sam Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) February 21, 2015
"We've got a lot of work still," Mission Control told the astronauts at the end of the spacewalk. "We want to make sure we look after your health and get you back inside now, so we're going to claim victory here."
The next phase is set to begin Wednesday when the astronauts plan to add 24 additional feet of cables in a second spacewalk while the final step is slated for March 1.
BONUS: Watch the spacewalk