Update for 1 p.m. EDT: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev has suffered a spacesuit issue during today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station and is currently safely back inside the Poisk airlock with his suit plugged into station power, NASA says. At no point was Artemyev in danger, but his spacesuit is suffering voltage issues. Russian flight controllers are weighting their options on whether to continue today's spacewalk. Read live updates here.
Two Russian cosmonauts will continue booting up the European Robotic Arm in a spacewalk today (Aug. 17), and you can watch their activities for free.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev are scheduled to start their 6.5-hour International Space Station spacewalk around 9:20 a.m. EDT (1320 GMT), according to NASA.
Coverage of the spacewalk is expected to begin around 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT). You can watch live here at Space.com in the link above, on NASA's YouTube channel or directly at NASA's website.
Spacewalks from Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency, are typically conducted in the Russian language. That said, live interpretation in English is usually available in real time as the cosmonauts conduct their activities.
In pictures: The most memorable spacewalks in history
The cosmonauts plan to install cameras on the arm, along with moving an external control panel and removing launch restraints near the "hands" (end effectors) of the arm, according to NASA. The duo will also "test a rigidizing mechanism on the arm that will be used to facilitate the grasping of payloads," the agency stated.
That grasping capability will be key when the European robotic arm moves around payloads and equipment outside the ISS Russian segment. Once ready to go, the new arm will join the Canadian-built Canadarm2 robotic arm and the Japanese arm that already support station maintenance, operations, and research.
Artemyev will wear a Russian Orlan spacesuit with red stripes, while Matveev will wear a Russian Orlan suit with blue stripes. This will be the seventh spacewalk for Artemyev and the third for Matveev, NASA stated.
Wednesday's spacewalk will also be the seventh EVA at the ISS in 2022 and the 252nd supporting its assembly and maintenance since 1998, based on previous spacewalks.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
