May 23 (UPI) -- NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer successfully replaced a fried data relay box during an emergency spacewalk on Tuesday.
"The two astronauts successfully replaced a computer relay box, and installed a pair of antennas on station to enhance wireless communication for future spacewalks," NASA officials confirmed in an update.
The replaced computer system, which is vital to an array of space station components, is known as the Multiplexer-Demultiplexer. It failed on Saturday morning.
"The MDM controls the functionality of station components such as the solar arrays, radiators, cooling loops and other systems," NASA said over the weekend.
The contingency spacewalk was relatively brief, lasting just two hours and 46 minutes, and ending at 10:06 p.m. EDT.
Replays of the spacewalk can be watched on NASA TV.
According to NASA, none of the International Space Stations' vital systems or components were affected by the MDM failure. The astronauts were never in danger, officials said. The MDM was one of two redundant systems -- the other relay box continues to function without a problem.
Tuesday's spacewalk was the 201st outside the space station.
"Spacewalkers have now spent a total of 1,250 hours and 41 minutes working outside the station," NASA said.
