NASA: Christmas Eve Spacewalk Could Wrap up Repair
Source: Associated Press
NASA: Christmas Eve Spacewalk Could Wrap up Repair
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. December 23, 2013 (AP)
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
The Christmas Eve spacewalk planned by NASA at the International Space Station should wrap up repair work on a faulty cooling line.
Mission Control said Monday that unless something goes awry, two astronauts ought to finish installing a new ammonia pump Tuesday, during this second spacewalk. NASA originally thought three spacewalks might be needed.
Astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins removed the faulty pump Saturday. Everything went so well, they jumped ahead in their effort to fix the external cooling line that shut down Dec. 11.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
The second spacewalk should have been Monday, but was bumped a day so Mastracchio could swap suits. He inadvertently hit the water switch in the air lock following Saturday's spacewalk, and engineers suspect water entered his suit. The suit needs to dry out for at least a week before being used again, said flight director Judd Frieling.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/nasa-christmas-eve-spacewalk-wrap-repair-21310921
= new reply since forum marked as read
