spacetoday.net: STS-115 crew completes final spacewalk

Posted: Sat, Sep 16, 2006, 12:10 PM ET (1610 GMT)
STS-115: EVA #3 (NASA)

Two shuttle astronauts performed the third and final spacewalk of the STS-115 mission on Friday, all but wrapping up a successful assembly mission to the ISS. Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper spent six hours and 42 minutes outside the ISS on Friday. The two removed launch restraints on the radiator portion of the new station truss segment, allowing ground controllers to command it to deploy shortly afterwards. The two also upgraded the station's S-band communications equipment and other assorted tasks to support future spacewalks on the station. The STS-115 crew is getting half of Saturday off to rest before wrapping up activities on the station. The shuttle is scheduled to undock early Sunday and return to Earth on Wednesday.