The US space agency NASA reported yesterday that two US astronauts accomplished a six-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station safely and successfully on Thursday. The space agency told that the two astronauts ventured outside the ISS to install a set of solar panels that will help boosting the space station's power.

NASA detailed that the two astronauts, Astronauts Richard Arnold and Steve Swanson went for the space walk to install a 31,000-pound girder with solar wings, which is crucial part of the space station's structural backbone. The new installment will enhance the space station's power and will help the ISS to house more crew member. It will allow the size of crew to be doubled from three to six.

According to NASA, the space walk lasted for 6 hours and 7 minutes; it was completed at 7:23 p. m. ET. It was the first of three spacewalks slated for the crew of the 13-day Discovery mission to the International Space Station. It was 121st spacewalk organized in support of assembling the space station. It was Swanson's third and Arnold's first spacewalk.

Expressing joy over the success of the first space walk, the NASA spacewalk director Glenda Laws-Brown said, "We're very proud of their work. They were very efficient. I've watched several of these and this was a joy to watch."

According to lead space station flight director Kwatsi Alibaruho, the space walk and operation of robotic arms by astronauts John Phillips and Koichi Wakata, were "executed flawlessly."

After Arnold and Swanson accomplished the space walk successfully, the space station commander Mike Fincke congratulated them for completing the 23 minutes ahead of schedule. Fincke said, "I just wanted to say welcome back aboard the space station….Great job out there. You guys were outstanding."