Astronauts complete first spacewalk of mission
April 10th, 2010 - 12:10 am ICT by IANSWashington, April 9 (DPA) Two Discovery shuttle astronauts undertook the first spacewalk of the current mission at the International Space Station (ISS) early Friday, checking off a list of outside chores aboard the orbiting laboratory.
The duo Clay Anderson and Rick Mastracchio began work to change out an ammonia tank that is part of the ISS’s cooling system and replaced a malfunctioning gyroscope, which helps keep the station level as it orbits Earth.
The walk lasted six hours and 27 minutes, ending at 7:58 am (1158 GMT). Two more spacewalks are planned on Sunday and Tuesday before Discovery’s scheduled undocking April 16 to begin its homeward journey.
On Thursday, crew members of Discovery began unloading the Italian-built Leonardo container, which was packed full of eight tonnes of cargo, including experiments, a small fitness studio for the station crew, an observation module with cameras and sensors and a ream of scientific instruments.
Discovery took off Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, into a stunning sunrise, providing a picturesque launch watched by many on the beach.
The planned 13-day mission is to be followed by only three more shuttle missions before the ageing fleet of spacecraft is retired for good by year’s end or early next year. That will leave only the Russia Soyuz craft for human transport into space.
- Space shuttle Endeavour returns to Earth after final mission - Jun 01, 2011
- Discovery shuttle launched - Apr 05, 2010
- Space station crew land safely in Kazakhstan (Lead) - Nov 22, 2011
- Russian spacecraft undocks from ISS - Nov 22, 2011
- Discovery crew completes first spacewalk successfully - Apr 09, 2010
- Atlantis astronauts prepare for return to Earth - Nov 25, 2009
- US astronauts complete second spacewalk - Apr 12, 2010
- Space shuttle Discovery set to return to Earth for final time - Mar 08, 2011
- Space shuttle Atlantis makes final landing - Jul 21, 2011
- Space shuttle Discovery returns after 15-day mission - Apr 20, 2010
- NASA's space shuttle Endeavour docks with International Space Station - May 19, 2011
- NASA space shuttle Discovery returns safely - Apr 20, 2010
- Atlantis docks for last time with International Space Station - Jul 11, 2011
- Discovery undocks from ISS, heads for home - Apr 17, 2010
- NASA delays shuttle Endeavour's launch - Apr 30, 2011
Tags: cape canaveral florida, clay anderson, crew members, discovery shuttle, fitness studio, gyroscope, international space station, launch, orbits, ream, rick mastracchio, scientific instruments, shuttle astronauts, shuttle missions, soyuz craft, space station iss, spacewalk, spacewalks, station crew, stunning sunrise