Cosmonauts Handle Explosives On Spacewalk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - "Two space station astronauts took a daring spacewalk Thursday to cut into the insulation of their descent capsule and remove an explosive bolt with firecracker force—enough to blow off their hands.

Flight controllers in Moscow assured Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, both Russians, that the bolt would not detonate and that the unprecedented job would help ensure their safe return to Earth in the Soyuz capsule this fall.

"You should not be concerned at all," Mission Control radioed."

Just as long as they don't land in the US and risk being confronted by an irate (aren't they always?) BATFE. And not for nothing, but Russians do not have astronauts. And not for nothing, Part II, where in hell can I buy these firecrackers that can blow off hands...