[sarex] STS-117 Astronauts Conclude Fourth Spacewalk

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468


STS-117’s final spacewalk came to an end at 2254 utc. During the 6-hour, 
29-minute orbital stroll, Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and 
Steven Swanson performed tasks to activate the International Space 
Station’s new truss segment and completed work that will help future 
spacewalkers.

Forrester and Swanson began the excursion at 1645 utc. and quickly went 
to work preparing the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment for 
operation. The S3/S4 was installed onto the station on June 11. Most of 
the S3/S4 work centered on activating the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint 
(SARJ), which will allow the S3/S4 arrays to track the Sun.

Early in the spacewalk, Forrester verified the installation of the Drive 
Lock Assembly 2, one of two mechanisms that will drive rotation of the 
SARJ, while Swanson installed a TV camera and its support structure. 
Then, the duo removed the final launch restraints on the SARJ before 
removing a keel pin and drag link to clear the path for the station’s 
mobile transporter.

The get-ahead tasks included the installation of a computer network 
cable onto the Unity module and the removal of a Global Positioning 
System antenna. The two astronauts also finished the installation of a 
piece of debris shielding on the Destiny laboratory.

Mission Specialist Jim Reilly coordinated the spacewalk and Pilot Lee 
Archambault operated the robot arm. Forrester and Swanson conducted 
STS-117’s second spacewalk. Reilly and Mission Specialist Danny Olivas 
conducted the other two. Today’s spacewalk is the 87th devoted to 
station assembly and maintenance.

Attention now turns to Atlantis' departure and the events leading up to 
undocking. The STS-117 crew is scheduled to exit the station Monday 
before the hatches close at 2223 utc. Atlantis is slated to undock at 
1441 utc. Tuesday.

However, mission managers may decide to add a day of docked operations 
for STS-117 if the Russian navigation computers do not perform 
adequately during test of Russian attitude control capabilities Monday 
morning at 1428 utc.