HOUSTON, Texas (AP) — NASA cut short a spacewalk by two astronauts outside the international space station Wednesday after one of them noticed a hole in the outer layer of his glove.
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STS-118: EVA #3 Continues
The third of four spacewalks for STS-118 should end at 5:07PM EDT. NASA reports:
Astronauts Move Carts, Upgrade Communications System; Spacewalk Continues
Image above: Expedition 15 Flight Engineer Clay Anderson holds a Crew Equipment Translation Aid cart as he rides on the end of the International Space Station’s robotic arm during STS-118’s third spacewalk. Image: NASA TVAstronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson are rolling through their scheduled activities as they work outside the International Space Station.
They continued preparations for the relocation of the Port 6 (P6) truss and its solar arrays by moving two Crew Equipment Translation Aid carts along the Integrated Truss Structure rail system. This will allow the station’s arm to perform the P6 relocation work during STS-120. The P6 will be moved from atop the station to the end of the Port 5 truss.
Early in the spacewalk, the duo relocated an antenna from the Port 6 (P6) to the Port 1 (P1) truss. In addition to the antenna relocation, the spacewalkers installed a new transponder and signal processor in an S-band communications system upgrade.
Before the excursion ends, Mastracchio and Anderson will retrieve two materials science experiments from the station’s exterior. The experiments were deployed in August 2006 and will be returned to Earth for analysis. Since the spacewalkers are ahead of the timeline, flight controllers may give them approval to tackle some get-ahead tasks.
Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
STS-118: EVA #3 Begins
Flight Day 8 brings the third spacewalk of the mission. NASA reports:
Astronauts Go to Work Outside Space Station
Image above: Mission Specialist Rick Mastracchio rides on the end of the space station’s robotic arm during STS-118’s third spacewalk. Image: NASA TVAstronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson kicked off STS-118’s third spacewalk at 10:37 a.m. EDT. They are scheduled to spend 6.5 hours outside the International Space Station preparing the International Space Station’s Port 6 (P6) truss for relocation and upgrading a communications system.
Their P6-related tasks include moving two Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) carts along the Integrated Truss Structure rail system. This will allow the station’s arm to perform the P6 relocation work during STS-120.
The duo will also relocate an antenna from the P6 to the Port 1 (P1) truss and retrieve a transponder for return to Earth. In addition to moving the antenna, the spacewalkers will install a new transponder on the P1 as part of the communications system upgrade.
Mastracchio and Anderson will also retrieve two materials science experiments from the station’s exterior. The experiments were deployed in August 2006 and will be returned to Earth for analysis.
