Russian cosmonauts perform delicate maintenance in the vacuum of space

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Beyond the safety of the station, Roscosmos cosmonauts must navigate the harsh vacuum to perform intricate repairs. From cleaning windows on the Zvezda module to extracting tiny gaskets with tweezers, these extravehicular activities are essential for maintaining the complex scientific experiments orbiting our planet.

Spacewalks, or extravehicular activities (EVAs), are critical for the continued operation of the International Space Station (ISS). Russian cosmonauts from Roscosmos perform these tasks to upgrade communications equipment, install new scientific hardware, and maintain the station's exterior. On 10 August, Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko and Expedition 44 Commander Gennady Padalka performed tasks to swap gear on the Russian segment and assess hull contamination from thruster plumes.

The technical precision required during these outings is immense. During a spacewalk on October 28, 2025, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky spent 6 hours and 54 minutes working on the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module (MLM). Their tasks included mounting the Impuls experiment, which investigates the potential for jet engines to function in space, and researching the effects of spacecraft on Earth's ionosphere via the IPI-500 study.

Maintenance often involves unexpected challenges. While working on the Ekran-M Molecular Beam Epitaxy experiment—designed to create thin materials for semiconductors—the cosmonauts discovered a loose gasket within the device's chamber. Following instructions from mission control, they had to carefully extract the part using tweezers. To ensure the mission's success, they secured a replacement cassette using wire ties, which ultimately allowed mission control to receive high-quality data.

These excursions are not merely about installation; they are vital for visibility and protection. Cosmonauts have been tasked with cleaning windows on modules like Zvezda and Nauka, often requiring them to operate protective shutters to allow access to the panes.

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