2 Russian astronauts leave space station for 6-hour spacewalk

2 Russian astronauts start spacewalk

MOSCOW — Two Russian astronauts have exited the international space station for a spacewalk intended to replace a video camera and improve cable connections to the orbiting laboratory’s newest module.

Fyodor Yurchikhin and Mikhail Kornienko are expected to spend about six hours outside the station to complete the work.

In a video feed from Russian Mission Control just outside Moscow, one of the astronauts was heard exclaiming “Isn’t it beautiful” outside as the spacewalk began early Tuesday.

The astronauts are replacing a camera used in monitoring docking of Automatic Transfer Vehicles, supply ships sent by the European Space Agency. They also are to attach cables connecting the rest of the station to the Russian Rassvet module. Rassvet, used for storage and as a mini-laboratory, was delivered to the station in May.