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Astronaut Jack Fischer waves while attached to the Destiny laboratory during a spacewalk to replace a failed data relay box and install a pair wireless antennas. Nasa

'Victory' as astronauts fix power box during critical space walk

It was unclear what caused the MDM to fail.

TWO US ASTRONAUTS successfully embarked on what NASA described as a “critical” spacewalk to repair a failed piece of equipment that helps power the International Space Station.

“We have declared victory,” NASA commentator Rob Navias said about two hours into the emergency spacewalk by space station commander Peggy Whitson, 57, and flight engineer Jack Fischer, 43.

The reason for the outing was the sudden breakdown on Saturday of a computer relay box known as multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) unit.

The MDM — which is about the size of a small microwave and would weigh 50 pounds on Earth — helps operate solar arrays, electrical power generation, and robotic equipment at the ISS.

It also regulates the operation of radiators and cooling loops.

Since there are two MDMs at the orbiting outpost, the loss of one did not jeopardise the lives of the crew or bring a halt to station operations.

Still, a space agency spokesman described the mission as a “critical contingency spacewalk” and called it a “high priority” to replace the failed box as soon as possible.

Quick fix

During the shorter than normal spacewalk which lasted just two hours and 46 minutes – much less than the typical six and a half hours – Whitson took the lead and replaced the MDM.

“We now have two healthy MDMs,” Navias said.

Meanwhile, Fischer, making the second spacewalk of his career, installed a pair of antennas on the US Destiny Laboratory module to enhance wireless communication capability for future spacewalks.

It was unclear what caused the MDM to fail.

The unit had just been installed in March during a spacewalk by Whitson and Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough.

Nor was it the first time an MDM unit failed.

“A similar MDM replacement spacewalk was conducted in April 2014 by Expedition 39 crewmembers Steve Swanson and Rick Mastracchio of NASA,” the US space agency said.

New record for Whitson

Whitson is the most experienced female spacewalker in the world, and during the spacewalk she leapt to third place for the most time spent doing spacewalks.

She now has a total of 60 hours, 21 minutes over 10 career walkabouts in space.

The world record holder for spacewalking is Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev, who completed 16 spacewalks totaling 78 hours, 21 minutes.

In second place is Spanish-American astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria, who has done 10 spacewalks totaling 67 hours and 40 minutes.

- © AFP, 2017

Read: Hindu chef unfairly dismissed after going on prayer leave after his dad died

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Mar 11th 2016, 10:52 AM

    Wouldn’t be worried about AI taking over. They have no reason to. All our fears are human related. It is what we would do with that intelligence. AI is different. The deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth that is behind humanity at its worst would not apply to AI i don’t think. I can’t see AI having the ambition to be rich. It wont have a fear of foreigners. It won’t believe in some god in heaven. If AI gets to the stage of self awareness then i believe it will be intelligent enough to not make the same mistakes as man.

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    Mute Padraig
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    Mar 11th 2016, 11:33 AM

    Stephen Hawking thinks AI could end mankind.
    http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30290540

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    Mute Paul FitzGerald
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    Mar 11th 2016, 4:45 PM

    I suggest you have a read of this. It is very (very) long but it is a good insight. http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-1.html

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    Mute Mark Clarke
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    Mar 11th 2016, 10:32 AM

    Zerg Rush. Sorted.

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    Mute Colin Moran
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    Mar 11th 2016, 11:25 AM

    I just watched the two hour video of two nerds playing video games.
    Me hurt brain bad.

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    Mute Richard Byrne
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    Mar 11th 2016, 11:25 AM

    The fear is when the AI gets so far as to convert to Islam

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    Mute Fozz
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    Mar 11th 2016, 11:59 AM

    Yer missing the meaning of the ‘I’ part of AI…

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Mar 11th 2016, 11:04 AM

    Get it to predict our next government. That’d stump it.

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    Mute itsonlyme
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    Mar 11th 2016, 11:25 PM

    How about a nice game of chess!

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    Mute Chris Burke
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    Mar 11th 2016, 5:27 PM

    Cloak banshee, see ya later

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