Russian Cosmonauts Complete First Spacewalk of 2025 from ISS

Cosmonauts Venture Outside ISS for Critical Tasks

Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky successfully concluded the first spacewalk of 2025 from the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, October 16. The extravehicular activity (EVA), which lasted approximately six hours and nine minutes, saw the duo install new scientific equipment and perform essential maintenance on the station's Russian segment.

The spacewalk, designated as the 276th in support of the ISS's assembly, maintenance, and upgrades, began at 1:10 p.m. EDT (1710 GMT) and concluded at 7:19 p.m. EDT (2319 GMT). While initially planned for a slightly shorter duration, the cosmonauts extended their time in the vacuum of space to ensure all objectives were met.

Installation of Advanced Scientific Equipment

A primary objective of the spacewalk was the installation of the Ekran-M experiment on the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module. This cutting-edge scientific equipment is designed for growing high-purity semiconductor crystals in the microgravity environment of space. The experiment aims to produce ultra-pure and precisely structured semiconductor materials, such as gallium arsenide films, which are crucial for advanced solar cells and could pave the way for future orbital mini-factories.

During the installation, Ryzhikov, who serves as the ISS Expedition 73 commander, held onto the Ekran-M unit while riding at the end of the European Robotic Arm (ERA). The ERA was skillfully operated by fellow cosmonaut Oleg Platonov from inside the station.

Maintenance and Decommissioning Activities

In addition to the scientific installation, the cosmonauts carried out several maintenance tasks. They successfully removed a mounting platform that housed a commercial high-resolution camera from the Zvezda Service Module. This Canadian commercial payload, weighing approximately 180 pounds, was no longer required and was safely jettisoned into space by Zubritsky, ensuring it would burn up harmlessly upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

Other maintenance activities included:

• Cleaning one of the portholes (illuminator) on the Zvezda Service Module.
• Retrieving a cassette container, part of an exposed material samples experiment, from the Poisk module.

Cosmonaut Experience and Equipment

This spacewalk marked a significant milestone for both cosmonauts. It was the first extravehicular activity for Alexei Zubritsky, while it was the second for Sergei Ryzhikov, bringing his total spacewalk time to 12 hours and 57 minutes. The cosmonauts utilized Russia's latest Orlan-MKS spacesuits, which, for the first time, incorporated two adjustable-length safety tethers for enhanced flexibility and safety.