Three new advanced Russian Orlan-MKS spacesuits will be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of 2016, the head of the Russian segment of the ISS said on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, a source in the Russian space industry told RIA Novosti that Russian cosmonauts Yuri Malenchenko and Sergei Volkov, who completed their first spacewalk of 2016 earlier in the day, were supposed to wear the newest Orlan-MKS spacesuits during the event.

However, the suits were not delievred in time, and the cosmonauts wore an earlier model of the spacesuits, Orlan-MK.

"This year, we are planning to deliver three suits [to the ISS] - in the summer and in the fall," Vladimir Solovyov told reporters.

The Orlan-MKS is the fifth generation spacesuit which features automated environmental control systems, as well as as polyurethane seals to increase the lifespan of the suits.

Source: Sputnik News