spacetoday.net: ISS crew preps for spacewalk

Posted: Thu, Jul 29, 2004, 1:56 PM ET (1756 GMT)
ISS illustration (NASA)

The two crewmembers on the International Space Station said Wednesday they're ready to perform a spacewalk next week that will help get the station ready for future visits by European cargo spacecraft. Gennady Padalka and Michael Fincke will spend six hours outside the station on August 3. They will install laser reflectors and communications equipment to the Russian segment of the station that will permit dockings by the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), an unmanned cargo spacecraft being developed by the European Space Agency. The launch of the first ATV, dubbed Jules Verne, is scheduled for next year. During the spacewalk Padalka and Fincke will also collect experiments currently attached to the exterior of the station. Prior to the spacewalk, a Progress cargo spacecraft currently docked to the station will undock on Friday. A new Progress spacecraft is scheduled for launch on August 11.