NASA has ordered astronauts to do emergency spacewalks to carry out repairs on a broken cooling line at the International Space Station.
The US space agency said that the work to replace a faulty pump module is gong to require the services of two astronauts, and three spacewalks – the first of which has been planned for Saturday, the BBC reported.
NASA has said that the situation is potentially serious but is not life-threatening; 50 per cent of the cooling system had automatically shut down last week after it detected abnormal temperatures.
The space agency said that the pump is associated with one of ISS’ two external cooling loops, which circulate ammonia outside the ISS to keep both internal and external equipment cool.
NASA said that the repairs is going to take priority over the launch of a supply ship from Virginia, which has now been postponed until January.
Each spacewalk is going to last six-and-a-half hours and is going to be broadcast on NASA TV. (ANI)