VIDEO. An astronaut on the ISS victim of a mysterious leak in ... - TF1

An Italian astronaut who was on an outing in the space on the outskirts da space station International has experienced previously unknown damage. “After a little over an hour in space, Luca Parmitano, the European Space Agency, said having water floating behind his head inside his helmet,” said NASA to AFP. The astronaut, who was out in space Tuesday along with American astronaut Chris Cassidy, suffered a leak in his helmet, forcing the two men to return urgently to the orbital laboratory research.

crew are immediately came to the rescue of Italian astronaut took off his helmet. Chris Cassidy said his colleague was “going good.” The causes of the incident were still unclear Tuesday. “None of the two astronauts were in real danger throughout (the mission),” said the television commentator of the U.S. space agency, adding that the source of the leak “was not easily identifiable. “

The water had a “funny taste”

According to the New York Post, Luca reportedly said that “the water (in his helmet) had a funny taste,” shortly after the incident, the control center of NASA, based in Houston Texas (southern United States). “This water is not clear tasted the water that we drink here,” he said, adding that samples recovered from the liquid would be analyzed.

The objective of this spacewalk, the second of two scheduled this month, was to prepare the ISS for the arrival of a new Russian module and perform some repairs. According Maxiscience they installed more cables for the arrival of the new Russian docking module that will take place later in the year. This should replace the Pirs compartment installed in 2001 and provide a new research laboratory at the ISS crew.

His second spacewalk

output lasted 1:32, said Nasa. It was supposed to start last 6:15. Luca Parmitano, which is the first Italian astronaut to be released into space by conducting the second output of his career. His first experience dates back to July 9, also accompanied by Cassidy. He then told his impressions on his blog, explaining “as putting on a coat astronaut requires considerable efforts, especially the upper part,” but providing “feel so good (in space) that (he ) can not stop smiling. “

Parmitano arrived in May at Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft with two other astronauts: Russian Fedor Iourtchikhine and American Karen Nyberg. They are joined Russians Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Missourkine and American Cassidy. The Italian and his two colleagues arrived at the same time he must spend six months aboard the ISS.