European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst went on his first spacewalk Tuesday with NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman. Working in the moonlight, the duo spent a total of six hours and 13 minutes outside of the International Space Station cleaning and repairing various aspects of their floating home. The astronauts were tethered to the space station during their outing and had a few minutes to take some photographs, some of which were later posted to social media.
Another spacewalk is scheduled to take place next week, the Associated Press reports. Wiseman and fellow American Butch Wilmore will be venturing out of the station to perform more maintenance work.
Want to see more of these astronauts? Watch TIME’s Jeff Kluger interview Reid Wiseman, Steve Swanson, and Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station
PHOTOS: This Astronaut's Images of Earth Look Like Beautiful Abstract Paintings
"Harsh land. Windswept valleys in northern #Africa"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 6, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA"Land use in South Africa, you can see where water is."—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 9, 2014.Alexander Gerst—ESA"Irrigation in the #Sahara #Desert looks like a challenging task from up here... #BlueDot"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 28, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA"An open history book of our planet: the #Sahara Desert"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 26, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA"An open history book of our planet: the # Sahara Desert"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 26, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA/SIPA USA"Close-up of gigantic Salar of Uyuni in Bolivia. You can even see the salt fields and the 'Cactus Island'."—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 15, 2014.Alexander Gerst—ESA"The #Moon was still behind the horizon. A #FataMorgana of atmospherical refraction #BlueDot"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 14, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA/SIPA USA"When I took this photo, I was sure these are clouds. But now I'm not so sure... #BlueDot"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 7, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA"Probably a river in Kazakhstan or slightly west of it."—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 29, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA/SIPA USA"An open history book of our planet: the #Sahara Desert"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 26, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA"Human-made fires in East Africa. Can you spot them?"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 9, 2014Alexander Gerst—ESA
