Posted: Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 7:54 AM ET (1254 GMT)
Two astronauts conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Wednesday, successfully completing most of their assigned tasks despite a problem with the airlock hatch. Astronauts Ken Bowersox and Don Pettit spent six hours and 51 minutes outside the ISS starting at 7:50 am EST (1250 GMT) Wednesday. The start of the spacewalk was delayed when the astronauts had difficulty opening the airlock hatch, a problem that was traced to a strap on the hatch's thermal cover. Once outside, the astronauts completed a number of tasks, including deploying a radiator on the P1 truss segment installed on the station late last year. The spacewalkers also cleaned one of the docking seals on the Unity module where cargo modules are attached during shuttle missions. The spacewalkers were unable to complete one low-priority task during the spacewalk, the installation of a stanchion and light fixture on one of the handcarts on the truss, because a stuck pin would not allow the stanchion to move. The task will be deferred to a spacewalk by a later station crew.

Related Links:

•  NASA ISS status report #03-3
•  AP article
•  SPACE.com article