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Tim Peake tweets spacewalk selfie Tim Peake tweets spacewalk selfie
(about 1 hour later)
UK astronaut Tim Peake described his first walk in space as "exhilarating", as he posted photos - including a selfie - of the feat on Twitter.UK astronaut Tim Peake described his first walk in space as "exhilarating", as he posted photos - including a selfie - of the feat on Twitter.
It will "be etched in my memory forever - quite an incredible feeling," said Peake, the first astronaut representing the UK to carry out a spacewalk.It will "be etched in my memory forever - quite an incredible feeling," said Peake, the first astronaut representing the UK to carry out a spacewalk.
He and US colleague Tim Kopra were outside the space station, carrying out repairs, for four hours and 43 minutes. He and US colleague Tim Kopra were outside the International Space Station (ISS) for four hours and 43 minutes.
But their spacewalk was cut short after water leaked into Col Kopra's helmet.But their spacewalk was cut short after water leaked into Col Kopra's helmet.
The pair had already replaced a failed electrical box, which was their main objective.The pair had already replaced a failed electrical box, which was their main objective.
As it happened: Tim Peake's spacewalkAs it happened: Tim Peake's spacewalk
Nasa is under a ruling to terminate a spacewalk under such circumstances after an incident in 2013, when a European astronaut developed a significant helmet leak and nearly drowned. After they returned and were safely inside with the outer airlock hatch closed, Major Peake thanked mission controllers: "You guys did a great job."
"When we found water on the visor, that was when we pulled the trigger and terminated the walk," said flight director Royce Renfrew, who halted the spacewalk at 16:58 GMT on Friday.
After receiving the instruction, the astronauts immediately started making their way back to the Quest airlock - arriving there about 15 minutes later.
Major Peake thanked mission controllers after the duo were safely inside with the outer airlock hatch closed, saying: "You guys did a great job."
Later on Friday night, he posted two tweets, two hours apart.Later on Friday night, he posted two tweets, two hours apart.
His first included three photographs and by Saturday morning it had had more than 9,000 retweets and 18,000 likes.His first included three photographs and by Saturday morning it had had more than 9,000 retweets and 18,000 likes.
It included a selfie that showed his camera in the reflection of his helmet.It included a selfie that showed his camera in the reflection of his helmet.
His next tweet said: "Wrapping up today's spacewalk activities. Huge thanks to the ground teams who make it all possible & keep us safe out there - you guys rock!" A later tweet from Maj Peake tweet said: "Wrapping up today's spacewalk activities. Huge thanks to the ground teams who make it all possible & keep us safe out there - you guys rock!"
The former army major and helicopter pilot has been aboard the International Space Station for about a month. His parents later spoke of their excitement at watching their son fulfil a long-term ambition.
"We are absolutely thrilled. This is a proud day," his mother Angela said.
Before the spacewalk, the couple said they had watched the ISS fly over their home in the West Sussex village of Westbourne.
"It was a brilliant pass in clear blue skies... it seems quite surreal that your son is up there," his father Nigel Peake said.
Tim Peake in space: Want to know more?Tim Peake in space: Want to know more?
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The spacewalk was expected to last more than six hours but was halted at 16:58 GMT on Friday when a water globule measuring a few inches across developed inside Col Kopra's helmet.
Nasa is under a ruling to terminate a spacewalk under such circumstances after an incident in 2013, when a European astronaut developed a significant helmet leak and nearly drowned.
A sample of water and absorption pads from inside the Col Kopra's helmet were collected by the crew as evidence for investigators to determine the cause of the leak.