spacetoday.net: Third spacewalk nearly completes SARJ cleaning

Third spacewalk nearly completes SARJ cleaning

Posted: Sun, Nov 23, 2008, 10:06 AM ET (1506 GMT)
STS-126: EVA #3 (NASA)

Two astronauts spent nearly seven hours outside the ISS Saturday, almost completing cleaning of a balky joint on the station. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen wrapped up the third EVA of the STS-126 mission Saturday at 7:58 pm EST (0058 GMT Sunday), six hours and 57 minutes after it began. The two spent the EVA working on the Solar Array Rotary Joint (SARJ) on the station's starboard side, cleaning the joint and replacing trundle bearing assemblies. The two nearly completed work on the joint, but ran out of time before they could replace one final assembly; that work will be performed on the mission's final EVA on Monday.