Virts Reports Small Amount of Water in Helmet

Crew Checks Helmet
(From left) Spacewalker Terry Virts, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov are in the Quest airlock checking out the spacesuit helmet reported to have a small amount of water in it. Credit: NASA TV

NASA astronaut and spacewalker Terry Virts reported seeing a small amount of water floating free in his helmet during airlock repressurization at the conclusion of Wednesday’s spacewalk. There was no report of water during the spacewalk itself, and the crew was never in any danger. After removing the helmet, Expedition 42 crew member Samantha Cristoforetti reported on the free floating water inside the helmet and indicated the helmet absorption pad was damp. Ground teams are currently analyzing the situation to confirm the source of the water.

Virts was wearing spacesuit #3005, which experienced a similar issue after a spacewalk in December 2013.

The teams will carefully evaluate the spacesuit data and perform a detailed assessment prior to the next spacewalk. Virts and fellow spacewalker Barry Wilmore are scheduled to perform their third and final spacewalk on Sunday, March 1.

4 thoughts on “Virts Reports Small Amount of Water in Helmet”

  1. hello Nasa

    I hope you guys are doing well? I just worked out. and I am on my google plus. I dont have twitter or facebook.. I love the photos you send to the world everyday. I have always loved space, having a great Science teacher , he made it fun everyday. Seeing the beautiful photos. I wish I could be there. keep in touch with the world. and take more photos. And come and visit Dallas Texas.
    See you all,
    lisa cancelada

  2. If you sweat in your helmet. Sweat had up into little balls of water. This may not be the case. How did the water get into his helmet ?

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