Tim Peake: UK astronaut to be first British person to walk in space
The walk will take place on 15 January, and will be the 192nd run to maintain the International Space Station
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tim Peake is to become the first ever British person to walk in space.
The British astronaut will step out of the International Space Station for a spacewalk on 15 January, Nasa has announced.
Two of the flight engineers from Expedition 46 — Nasa's Tim Kopra, as well as Major Peake — will take part in a spacewalk to fix a problem with the International Space Station. The two will "replace a failed voltage regulator that compromised one of the station's eight power channels last November", Nasa has said.
Major Peake's companion is a veteran of spacewalks, and this will be his third. It will be the 192nd spacewalk undertaken to maintain the space station.
The walk will mean that Major Peake will become the first British person to walk in space, as well as already being the first person from the UK on the International Space Station.
Major Peake had said in advance of his mission that he had hoped to take part in a spacewalk. But whether he would get to do one depended on Nasa's plans, and whether any necessary maintenance mission would need to be undertaken.
Nasa will run a briefing on Tuesday to detail exactly what the astronauts will get up to, and how they prepare. It will feature high-ranking staff at Nasa and will be livestreamed on the agency's TV station.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments