NASA Postpones Spacewalk Just Hours Before Astronauts Were to Exit ISS

"NASA on Wednesday delayed a scheduled spacewalk from the International Space Station (ISS) just hours before two astronauts were due exit the orbiting laboratory. The agency said in a statement that a medical concern with a crew member that arose Wednesday afternoon had caused the postponement. The announcement came just four hours after NASA reported that the space station crew had concluded preparations for the endeavor, which is more formally known as extravehicular activity or EVA."

"NASA did not provide any details about which astronaut was affected or the nature of the situation, citing medical privacy. The situation is stable, the statement read. NASA will share additional details, including a new date for the upcoming spacewalk, later. NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman were due to exit the station around 8 a.m. EST on January 8 for a six-and-a-half-hour project to install and prepare some new hardware for a future roll-out solar array."

NASA delayed a scheduled spacewalk from the International Space Station just hours before two astronauts were to exit because of a medical concern affecting a crew member. The medical issue arose Wednesday afternoon, prompting postponement and the agency cited medical privacy without identifying the crewmember or condition. The situation is stable, and NASA said it will provide additional details and a new date later. Astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman had been slated to perform a six-and-a-half-hour EVA on January 8 to install and prepare hardware for a roll-out solar array and possibly photograph and sample exterior microorganisms. Seven crewmembers currently occupy the ISS.

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