Alexander Gerst spacewalk

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst spent six hours and 13 minutes outside the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman on Tuesday, 7 October 2014. This was the first spacewalk for both astronauts but they performed well in the weightlessness of orbit.

In a weightless world where there is no up or down, the pair worked together to move a 385 kg pump from the Station’s truss to a permanent stowage location near the US Destiny module.

Alexander strapped himself to the Station’s robotic arm and held on to the unit while NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore operated the 16 m-long Canadarm from inside the orbital outpost. While moving, Alexander held on to the pump unit with flexed arms to absorb any shocks.

After working with Reid to attach the pump, Alexander took the arm for a last ride to park it and prepare it for its next use, berthing visiting spacecraft. Here, Alexander had his hands free and time to take a few photographs, such as this one.

Alexander then helped Reid upgrade the power relay on a trolley before they returned to the airlock at 18:34 GMT (20:34 CEST).