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Russian Cosmonauts Hang ISS Shield

The International Space Station

The International Space Station

Two Russian cosmonauts have improved the safety of the International Space Station (ISS) by installing shields to protect against zooming pieces of space junk.

Gennady Padalka and Yuri Malenchenko hung the panels on the Russian side of the orbiting station on August 20, after moving a crane from one spot to another and launching a small satellite.

This was the ninth spacewalk for Padalka and the fifth for Malenchenko.

An American and a Japanese astronaut are scheduled to venture outside the ISS next week.

Based on reporting by dpa and AP