Spacewalking astronauts from the International Space Station have released a tiny Peruvian research satellite into the void of space, where it will settle into orbit to regularly monitor the earth's atmospheric pressure and temperature, aside from capturing ongoing images from below.

Two Expedition 40 spacewalkers ventured outside the International Space Station Monday to deploy a nanosatellite, retrieve and install experimental packages and inspect components on the exterior of the orbital laboratory.

Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Artemiev cast off the four-inch automated observer with his gloved right hand as the ISS streamed 260 miles over a cloud-patched sky, according to a report by ABC News.

The nanosatellite -- named Chasqui, after the quick-footed Inca messengers -- tumbled clear of the orbiting laboratory, as designed.

Less than 30 minutes into the spacewalk, Chasqui was flying freely, on its own.

Cameras on the space station stayed trained on the box-like satellite as it vanished into the distance.

Barely weighing two pounds and carrying imaging equipment along with instruments to measure temperature and pressure, Chasqui is a technological learning experience for the National University of Engineering in Lima.

The nanosatellite was delivered to the station by a Russian cargo ship earlier this year.

With the deployment of the miniature orbiter completed, The two Russian station crew members set to work installing new science experiments outside the Russian portion of the space station and recovering old ones.

The two cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk back in June, a few months after arriving at the space station.

Meanwhile, spacewalks by United States crew members remain on hold, after a yearlong investigation into spacesuit failures that nearly cost the life of an Italian astronaut.

Luca Parmitano's helmet flooded with water from the suit's cooling system, as he narrowly made it back safely into the ISS. The investigation into that incident led to new safety improvements to the U.S. spacesuits.