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Cosmonauts Encounter Extreme Temperature Shifts During ISS Spacewalk
10 Nov
Summary
- Cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky experienced icy handrails on the dark side of the orbit and warm handrails in sunlight
- Absence of European Robotic Arm allowed more active movement, leading to more comfortable temperatures
- Second spacewalk felt less stressful than the first as procedures became more familiar
On November 6, 2025, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky conducted their second spacewalk of the year on the International Space Station (ISS). Zubritsky, who is also a TASS special correspondent on the ISS, reported that the pair experienced noticeably warmer conditions compared to their previous extravehicular activity (EVA).
This difference was largely due to the absence of the European Robotic Arm (ERA) manipulator, which allowed the cosmonauts to move around more actively. Zubritsky explained that the suit's thermal control system can only cool the astronaut to a certain degree, but the body still generates heat. During the first spacewalk, when they spent more time operating the ERA, it sometimes felt cool on the dark side of the orbit. This time, with more constant movement, the temperature felt comfortable throughout the entire EVA.
Zubritsky also shared vivid sensory impressions from the spacewalk. On the dark side of the orbit, the handrails of the station felt icy through his gloves, while on the sunlit side, they became noticeably warm. The cosmonaut likened the sensation to placing one's hand near a fireplace.
Zubritsky noted that the second EVA felt less stressful than the first, as the procedures had become more familiar and the station no longer seemed as alien when viewed from outside. However, the team still understood the importance of the tasks at hand, which included installing new scientific equipment.
