FSP - Microcosm News- Earth Watch Report: Extra-vehicular activity

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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Astronauts Ready for Second Spacewalk to Repair Station

VOAnews.com

Expedition 38 crew member Rick Mastracchio (L) checks out the spacesuit that he will wear during a spacewalk with crew member Mike Hopkins, in the Quest airlock in the International Space Station in this undated image taken from video from NASA TV, Dec. 20, 2013.

Reuters

December 23, 2013

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are planning a second and final spacewalk early Tuesday to fix the outpost's cooling system, a NASA official said.
NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins are expected to leave the station's Quest airlock to install a new ammonia pump, space station flight director Judd Frieling said during an interview on NASA Television on Monday.
During an initial spacewalk on Saturday, Mastracchio and Hopkins removed a failed pump, accomplishing about half the work planned for the second spacewalk. That prompted the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to drop plans for a third spacewalk, provided that no problems occur on Tuesday.
“It's apparent now that we'll be able to get most of our critical objectives done tomorrow [Tuesday]," said Frieling.

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

NASA Says Urgent Spacewalks Are Needed To Fix Space Station Cooling System

By MARCIA DUNN 12/17/13 06:32 PM ET EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has ordered up a series of urgent spacewalks to fix a broken cooling line at the International Space Station, a massive repair job that could stretch to Christmas Day.
Station managers decided Tuesday to send two American astronauts out as soon as possible to replace a pump with a bad valve. The task will require two and possibly three spacewalks on Saturday, Monday and next Wednesday — Christmas Day.
"The next week will be busy with space walks so not much tweeting from here," NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio said from space via Twitter soon after the decision was announced.
The spacewalks are taking priority over the launch of a supply ship from Virginia. The commercial delivery had been scheduled for this week, but is now delayed until at least mid-January.

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