NASA abandons spacewalk due to dangerous water leak in astronaut's space suit

A planned six-hour spacewalk was cut short after just 92 minutes on Tuesday after Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano's space suit developed a dangerous water leak, causing his face to be covered with water

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL -- Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano discovered "funny" tasting water leaking into his helmet when he commenced a spacewalk at the International Space Station on Tuesday.

He first noticed the water covering his neck, then his mouth, ears and even his eyes. He has trouble hearing the radio communications and couldn't speak because of the water - at which point NASA decided to abruptly abort the spacewalk and order Parmitano, along with his spacewalk companion Chris Cassidy to return to the station.

"The team down here in Mission Control is taking the cautious path and ending the spacewalk early," said NASA mission commentator Dan Huot.

The two astronauts returned safely to the station. As Parmitano took his helmet off, globs of water - about half a litre in total - could be seen floating away. The source of the leak was not immediately known, and according to the astronauts the water did not taste like drinking water - suggesting that it may have been a different watery fluid.

Cassidy said his colleague was doing "okay," and NASA TV showed images of Parmitano floating inside the space station and blowing his nose with a tissue.

"Neither astronaut was in serious danger throughout," a NASA commentator said, but added the cause of the leak was "not easily identifiable."

Image credit: ESA