BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Two astronauts on Monday floated outside the International Space Station (ISS) to begin installing power-generating equipment, thus unveiling the first of three outings planned during U.S. shuttle Atlantis' weeklong visit.

Astronauts James Reilly and John "Danny" Olivas emerged from the space station's airlock at 2002 GMT as the space station flew 208 miles (335 kilometers) over the southern Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. space agency NASA's television broadcast.

Their job was to make power, data and cooling connections on a new 16-ton truss segment containing solar panels, which was attached before the space walk with the help of the station's giant robotic arm.

Installation and activation of the new segment won't be completed until a second space walk on Wednesday.

Back on Earth, engineers in Houston were evaluating whether a peeled-back thermal blanket on Atlantis should be fixed by astronauts. The loosened blanket, covering a 4-by-6-inch (10-by-15 centimeters) area over a pod for engines, was discovered during an inspection of the space shuttle on Saturday.

If NASA decides to fix the problem, it could be done during one of three scheduled space walks or during an extra, unplanned one.

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