Now a selfie that's really out of this world! Spacewalking astronauts pose for a quick snap as they replace dead space station computer

  • Computers control the pointing of the solar wings and radiators
  • Nasa feared that if the primary computer went down as well entire space station would be in jeopardy

By Mark Prigg

Spacewalking astronauts have replaced a dead computer outside the International Space Station to bring their orbiting home back up to full strength - and managed to grab a space selfie in the process.

The two Americans on board, Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson, got through the urgent repair job, swapping out the computers within an hour, and competing tests to prove it was working - leaving time to take some pictures.

'My arms are too short for a selfie,' Mastracchio said with a chuckle, his camera pointed at himself.

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Rick Mastracchio's space selfie, taken while on a spacewalk to fix a computer

Rick Mastracchio's space selfie, taken while on a spacewalk to fix a computer

In this Wednesday, April 23, 2014 image made from video provided by NASA, astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson exit an airlock from the Internation...

In this Wednesday, April 23, 2014 image made from video provided by NASA, astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson exit an airlock from the International Space Station. The spacewalk was scheduled to replace a dead computer and get their orbiting home back up to full strength. (AP Photo/NASA)

WHY WAS IT SO URGENT?

Nasa feared that if the primary computer went down as well, the entire space station would be in jeopardy.

These two computers - the primary and backup - control the pointing of the solar wings and radiators, as well as the movement of the robot-arm rail cart.

It was the first failure of one of dozens of so-called MDMs, or multiplexer-demultiplexers, in and outside the space station.

Within hours, he has posted to picture to Twitter, telling followers 'the space suit makes it very difficult to get a good selfie. 

'I tried several today.'

'Excellent work, gentlemen,' Mission Control radioed.

The removed computer, a critical backup, failed nearly two weeks ago.

The prime computer has been working perfectly, but NASA wanted to install a fresh spare as soon as possible.

Mission Control waited until after the arrival of a capsule full of fresh supplies Sunday.

Replacing the computer — a compact 50-pound box — involved just three bolts.

Engineers do not know why the original failed. Mission Control asked the spacewalkers to keep an eye out for any damage that might explain the breakdown.

Nothing jumped out. 

Rick Mastracchio (pictured) also got fellow spacewalker Steven Swanson to take this picture of him in front of the station's Japanese module

Rick Mastracchio (pictured) also got fellow spacewalker Steven Swanson to take this picture of him in front of the station's Japanese module

Flight controllers were trying to load software into the spare computer on April 11, but it failed to activate.

That set into motion a frenzy of ground meetings and tests to fix the problem.

 

Nasa feared that if the primary computer went down as well, the entire space station would be in jeopardy.

These two computers — the primary and backup — control the pointing of the solar wings and radiators, as well as the movement of the robot-arm rail cart.

It was the first failure of one of dozens of so-called MDMs, or multiplexer-demultiplexers, in and outside the space station.

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio during the spacewalk to install a backup computer that failed

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio during the spacewalk to install a backup computer that failed

Mission Control kept the spacewalk short and straight-to-the-point; it lasted a mere one hour and 36 minutes.

All routine spacewalks by U.S. station crew have been on hold since last summer's near-drowning by a spacewalking astronaut.

His helmet filled with water from the cooling system of the suit, and NASA is continuing to investigate the problem.

NASA hopes to reuse the bad computer, once it's inspected indoors by the astronauts and updated.

Their mission accomplished, Mastracchio and Swanson exchanged a few jokes and laughs as they got ready to go back inside.

Astronauts Rick Mastracchio(C) and Steve Swanson(R) preparing for the spacewalk to install a backup computer that failed earlier this month. The spacewalk will mark the 179th in support of the orbiting space station, a global collaboration that includes Europe, Canada, Japan, the United States and Russia.

Astronauts Rick Mastracchio(C) and Steve Swanson(R) preparing for the spacewalk to install a backup computer that failed earlier this month. The spacewalk will mark the 179th in support of the orbiting space station, a global collaboration that includes Europe, Canada, Japan, the United States and Russia.

Mission Control spotted a small object floating over Mastracchio's right shoulder as the spacewalk drew to a close. He said he didn't think he lost anything.

The NASA commentator, Dan Huot, later said it appeared to be a tiny wire tie.

The space station is home to six men: the two Americans, three Russians and one Japanese.

The comments below have not been moderated.

A selfie in space with a UFO in the background , now that would be something.....

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"Just a moment....Just a moment. I've just picked up a fault in the AE-35 Unit. Its going to go 100 percent failure within 72 hours."

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Way to go Mark. When in doubt, use both the correct and the incorrect forms of a simple acronym. Yes, it is pronounced as a word BUT it is printed with CAPITAL (or BLOCK) letters.

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Why all the news having this "computer" missleading the readers when it was only "relay" thus way smaller piece.

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Strange, he doesn't look like George Clooney.......

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Awesome

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Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11. Very famous photo.

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But not a selfie. It was taken by Neil Armstrong - you can see Neil reflected in Buzz's visor. On Apollo 12, Conrad & Bean took a camera shutter self-timer which they wanted to use to take a photo of them both, but they lost it.

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Seems a bit strange to me that the computer is on the outside of the space station.

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Got to be the best selfie yet!

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Oh God, it's full of stars! (not)

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The camera won't pick up stars you fool...

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skyguy - Art's comment is a Stanley Kubrick '2001' film reference.

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