Space-seeking astronauts set up parking for private spaceships at the space station

On Wednesday (August 21), two NASA astronauts came out of the International Space Station to install a new docking port for incoming commercial crew spaceships at the station's fifth exit this year.

Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan began their release in the space of 6 hours and 32 minutes at 8:27 am EDT (12:27 GMT), coming out of the US-built airlock after turning their spacesuit into drums.

The pair has installed the International Mooring Adapter 3 (IDA-3) on the side of the Harmony connection module of the station facing the gap. IDA-3 will serve as the Space Station's second home port for future commercial vessels built by Boeing and SpaceX. NASA leveraged Boeing's Starliner capsule and SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the space station in the future.

Gallery: The most memorable outings of history

The exit into space was the first time Morgan ventured outside the space station. Hague has already made two space trips earlier this year to help replace some of the station's solar panel batteries. During Wednesday's tour, Hague was the first outing, followed by Morgan a few minutes later, when the station took off over the Atlantic Ocean.

Hague's mother watched the Earth's action at the NASA Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. She apparently concocted special treats for the ground flight controllers who assisted the astronauts when they went out into space.

"I heard that she was busy in the kitchen yesterday," Radio Hague radio control of the mission said, while routing cables to the outside of the station. . "I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I'm jealous." NASA did not reveal in an exit commentary in the space what dishes Hague's mother had prepared.

Hague and Morgan were waiting to have some trouble handling the cables of the mooring adapters, which have been heating in the sun outside the station since their delivery five years ago. But these fears, it seemed, were unfounded. The astronauts easily installed the cables and even finished earlier than expected.

The only problem that astronauts have known is that of astronauts when they put away a large thermal blanket for their tools. As explained by Mike Barratt, also an astronaut, spacecraft communicator in Mission Control: "It's like beating a big hostile marshmallow."

After installing the mooring port, Hague and Morgan then installed two essential reflectors on the IDA-3, which will serve as a mooring aid for passing spacecraft and will provide visual cues to incoming vehicles.

Hague and Morgan also got a hand from Dextre, a two-armed Canadian robot launched in 2008.

(Image credit: NASA TV)

In addition to Hague and Morgan, the crew of the station, Expedition 60, includes six astronomers, astronaut Christina Koch, Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Alexander Skvortsov, as well as the astronaut of the ship. European Space Agency Luca Parmitano. Ovchinin orders the Expedition 60 mission.

The crew also carries out scientific research on board, such as rodent experiments and stem cell differentiation. NASA's plan to use commercial spacecraft such as SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner will strengthen scientific research and technological development to advance the agency's future missions on the Moon and on March, NASA officials said in a report.

The release in Wednesday's space brings the total time of The Hague to the outside of the space station at 19 hours and 59 minutes for three exits in space. Morgan finished the day with 6 hours and 32 minutes out in space as it was her first career.

"Welcome to the club, you have done a brilliant job," congratulated Barratt, as he was returning to the station.

Morgan apparently enjoyed his first walk in space.

"It's a special thing we have to do and it's an honor to be part of such a brilliant team," Morgan said.

Follow Passant Rabie on Twitter @passantrabie. follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.