Spacewalking astronauts release baby satellite

Spacewalking astronauts have launched a tiny Peruvian research satellite, setting it loose on a mission to observe Earth.

Russian Oleg Artemiev cast the 10.1-centimetre box off with his gloved right hand as the International Space Station sailed 260 miles above the cloud-flecked planet. The nanosatellite gently tumbled as it cleared the vicinity of the orbiting complex, precisely as planned.

“One, two, three,” his colleague called out in Russian as Artemiev let go of the satellite.

Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev deploys the Chasqui 1 nanosatellite outside the Pirs docking compartment near the beginning of the spacewalk (Nasa TV)

Cameras watched as the nanosatellite — named Chasqui after the Inca messengers who were fleet of foot — increased its distance and grew smaller. Artemiev’s Russian spacewalking partner, Alexander Skvortsov, tried to keep his helmet camera aimed at the satellite as it floated away.

The satellite — weighing in at 0.9 kilograms — holds instruments to measure temperature and pressure, as well as cameras that will photograph Earth. A Russian cargo ship delivered the device earlier this year.

While Flight Engineer Alexander Skvortsov retrieves hardware inside the International Space Station’s Pirs airlock, Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev stretches his legs (Nasa TV)

With that completed, Artemiev and Skvortsov set about installing fresh science experiments outside the Russian portion of the space station and retrieving old ones. “Be careful,” Russian Mission Control outside Moscow warned as the astronauts made their way to their next work site.

They also collected samples from a window of the main Russian living compartment; engineers want to check for any engine residue from visiting spacecraft.

The spacewalkers wrapped up their work early. Flight controllers thanked them for their five-hour 11-minute effort.