NASA released this photo on Aug. 17, 2021. It shows Mark Vande Hei, an astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineering inspecting a spacesuit before he embarks on a spacewalk to the International Space Station. NASA announced Monday, Aug. 23 that it would delay a spacewalk due to an undisclosed medical concern involving Vande Hei. Credit: NASA via AP
NASA has delayed a spacewalk to the International Space Station because of an unidentified medical issue that involved one of its astronauts.
Officials announced Monday's postponement less than 24 hours after Mark Vande Hei was due to float outside.
Officials said that Vande Hei has "a minor medical problem". They noted that it is not an emergency but did not provide further details.
Vande Hei (54), a former Army colonel, is currently stationed at the space station and will remain until next spring to complete a one-year mission. He is currently on his second stay at the station.
His Japanese counterpart AkihikoHoshide was supposed to go out Tuesday to install a bracket to support new solar wings. NASA stated that the work could wait.
NASA reports that the spacewalk will be rescheduled following this weekend's SpaceX supply run and a September series spacewalks on Russia's orbiting lab side.
Continue exploring 2 Russian spacewalkers at the International Space Station
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