ISS spacewalk completed, SuitSat fails after release
Posted: Sat, Feb 4, 2006, 11:54 AM ET (1654 GMT)
The crew of the International Space Station performed a spacewalk Friday, releasing an old spacesuit that had been converted into a satellite and attempting to repair a cable cutter on the station's exterior. Bill McArthur and Valery Tokarev started the five-hour, 43-minute EVA at 5:44 pm EST (2244 GMT) Friday, the second spacewalk for the Expedition 12 crew. McArthur and Tokarev released an old Russian Orlan-M spacesuit that has been converted into a satellite, dubbed SuitSat, with an amateur radio transmitter inside. SuitSat was designed to operate for several days as it drifted away from the station, but stopped transmitting after a few hours, apparently when its batteries became too cold. The two spacewalkers then attempted to safe a bolt on a cable cutting device for cables that service the mobile transporter on the station's truss. A similar device mysteriously activated in December, severing one of two cables that provide power and data for the transporter. The spacewalkers were unable to secure the bolt, so instead moved the cable outside the cutting mechanism. The unit is scheduled to be repaired on the next shuttle mission to the ISS later this year. McArthur and Tokarev completed some other tasks while outside the station, including retrieving experiments and taking photos of the station's exterior.
The crew of the International Space Station performed a spacewalk Friday, releasing an old spacesuit that had been converted into a satellite and attempting to repair a cable cutter on the station's exterior. Bill McArthur and Valery Tokarev started the five-hour, 43-minute EVA at 5:44 pm EST (2244 GMT) Friday, the second spacewalk for the Expedition 12 crew. McArthur and Tokarev released an old Russian Orlan-M spacesuit that has been converted into a satellite, dubbed SuitSat, with an amateur radio transmitter inside. SuitSat was designed to operate for several days as it drifted away from the station, but stopped transmitting after a few hours, apparently when its batteries became too cold. The two spacewalkers then attempted to safe a bolt on a cable cutting device for cables that service the mobile transporter on the station's truss. A similar device mysteriously activated in December, severing one of two cables that provide power and data for the transporter. The spacewalkers were unable to secure the bolt, so instead moved the cable outside the cutting mechanism. The unit is scheduled to be repaired on the next shuttle mission to the ISS later this year. McArthur and Tokarev completed some other tasks while outside the station, including retrieving experiments and taking photos of the station's exterior.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, November 5
Marles claims JP9102 axing is 'change of direction, not cancellation', as industry picks up the pieces
Defence Connect (Australia) — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) SpaceX Cargo Dragon Heads To Space Station
Aviation Week — 5:52 am ET (1052 GMT) Centaur upper stage installation recognizes trailblazing space program
US Space Force — 5:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Fifth time’s a charm as H3 rocket puts defense satellite in orbit
Japan Times — 5:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Why it costs India so little to reach the Moon and Mars
BBC — 5:46 am ET (1046 GMT) |
