[sarex] Astronauts Go to Work Outside Space Station

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Astronauts Go to Work Outside Space Station
28 October 2007
*Astronauts are working outside the International Space Station for the 
second time during the STS-120 mission. The main objective of today’s 
spacewalk, which began at 5:32 a.m. EDT, is the preparation of the Port 
6, or P6, truss segment for its relocation.

Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski and Flight Engineer Daniel Tani will 
disconnect the Port 6, or P6, truss segment from the top of the station, 
where it was installed temporarily in 2000. Mission Specialists 
Stephanie Wilson and Doug Wheelock will use the station robotic arm to 
remove it and place the solar array section in a temporary holding 
position for tonight.

Parazynski and Tani will begin the spacewalk heading to the section 
where the P6 truss is attached to the Z1 truss. There they will 
disconnect the umbilicals and bolts holding the two trusses together.

In addition, mission managers have asked Tani to make a couple of 
inspections. First, he will inspect a rotary joint used to rotate solar 
arrays on the starboard side of the truss. The joint has been showing 
some increased friction lately, and mission managers hope Tani may be 
able to identify the cause. Second, he will inspect some handrails on a 
Crew and Equipment Translation Aid cart for sharp edges.

Parazynski also will install handholds and other equipment on the 
Harmony node. Both spacewalkers will finish up their tasks when they 
install a new grapple fixture to Harmony. The station’s robotic arm will 
use the grapple fixture next month when it reinstalls Harmony to the 
front of the Destiny laboratory.

The excursion is scheduled to last 6 hours and 40 minutes. Mission 
Specialist Paolo Nespoli will be the spacewalk coordinator, assisting 
the spacewalkers with their tasks.

*Mission Information*
+ STS-120 Mission Overview 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html>
+ Harmony Node 2 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/harmony_payload.html> 

+ Space Shuttle Discovery 
<http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html>