Two astronauts stepped outside the shuttle Discovery on Saturday in the first US spacewalk since 2002 and set to work testing damage-repair techniques developed after the Columbia disaster.

"What a view," Japan's Soichi Noguchi said as he drifted out into space while Discovery, docked to the International Space Station, sailed 224 miles above southeast Asia.

"Yeah, it's been a long road," said spacewalking partner Steve Robinson.

They left the shuttle a little more than an hour behind schedule and were to spend 6 1/2 hours outside in the first of three planned spacewalks.

In their first task, they used experimental tools to dab on specially-developed materials NASA hopes can be used to repair damaged insulating tiles and wing materials that shield the shuttle from the heat of reentry.

They were to work only on test tiles stowed in the shuttle's cargo bay, not on the orbiter itself, which sustained minor damage at launch on Tuesday from flying debris.

NASA engineers are to review the test upon Discovery's return.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!