Science and Exploration

Overnight EVA

By Keith Cowing

May 24, 2013

Filed under OnOrbit

NASA astronaut Greg Chamitoff, STS-134 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s first session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the six-hour, 19-minute spacewalk, Chamitoff and NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel (out of fame) retrieved long-duration materials exposure experiments and installed another, installed a light on one of the station’s rail line handcarts, made preparations for adding ammonia to a cooling loop and installed an antenna for the External Wireless Communication system. ISS027-E-035219 (20 May 2011) — high res (0.9 M) low res (81 K)

Astronauts Begin Second STS-134 Spacewalk

At 2:05 a.m. EDT, STS-134 spacewalkers Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke switched their suits to battery power, signifying the start of today’s planned six and a half hour excursion.

Feustel and Fincke will refill radiators with ammonia. They also will complete venting the early ammonia system, lubricate a left-side solar joint and parts of Dextre, a two-armed space station robot capable of handling delicate assembly tasks currently performed by spacewalkers.

Endeavour Mission Specialist Greg Chamitoff will be inside the International Space Station, coordinating communications between the spacewalkers and Mission Control in Houston and choreographing the spacewalkers’ activities. Greg Johnson and Expedition 27 crew member Cady Coleman will be operating the space shuttle and space station robotic arms in the later portion of the spacewalk.

This is the 246th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 157th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fifth for Feustel and the seventh for Fincke.

Feustel is wearing a spacesuit marked with solid red stripes, and his helmet camera displays number 18. Fincke is wearing an unmarked white suit, and his helmet camera displays number 20. Feustel is lead for this spacewalk.

Spacewalkers Press Ahead with Remaining Tasks

About 4 hours and 45 minutes into the spacewalk, Mission Control, spacewalkers Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke, and shuttle Commander Mark Kelly took a break to assess the remainder of today’s tasks, timeline, and condition of the astronauts. All decided to press ahead with the remainder of the tasks, which are expected to extend the spacewalk one hour beyond the original planned time, finishing after a total of about 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Fincke, Feustel Progressing on Second Spacewalk

Spacewalker Mike Fincke installed two radiator grapple bar stowage beams on the S1 segment of the station’s truss. The beams will be used to store handles that would be necessary if a radiator ever needed to be replaced.

Meanwhile, astronaut Drew Feustel conducted work on the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre. Inside the space station, astronauts Greg Johnson and Cady Coleman manipulated the station’s robotic arm to deliver Dextre to Feustel. He then installed a cover on one of the robot’s cameras and lubricated the snares that allow the robot to grab equipment.

Both spacewalkers now are headed back to the P3 solar alpha rotary joint to apply another layer of lubricant. Flight controllers on the ground in Houston have rotated the solar alpha rotary joint 200 degrees to spread the first layer of grease. If Feustel and Fincke have time, they also will replace covers 16, 13 and 9 before making their way back to the Quest airlock.

Spacewalkers Continue Work on Station Exterior

Astronaut Mike Fincke has finished applying lubrication beneath the covers 9, 13, 16 and 17. He has rejoined Drew Feustel to finish putting the port cooling loops back into their original configuration. While they are doing the jumper cleanup work, flight controllers on the ground in Houston will rotate the solar alpha rotary joint 200 degrees to spread the grease. That rotation will take about an hour, giving Fincke time to install two radiator grapple bar stowage beams on the S1 segment of the station’s truss. The beams will be used to store handles that would be necessary if a radiator ever needed to be replaced.

Meanwhile, Feustel will get into place for his work with the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre. The station’s robotic arm will bring Dextre to Feustel so he can install a cover on one of the robot’s cameras and lubricate the snares that allow the robot to grab equipment.

By the time those tasks are finished, the port solar alpha rotary joint should be in place for its second round of lubrication. Feustel and Fincke will work together on the task this time.

Second STS-134 Spacewalk Complete

Spacewalkers Mike Fincke and Drew Feustel wrapped up their mission’s second spacewalk at 10:12 a.m. EDT.

Sixth Longest Spacewalk in History Complete

Astronauts Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke completed an eight hour, seven minute spacewalk at 10:12 a.m. EDT, the 6th longest spacewalk in history. They completed all planned tasks, including refilling one of the station’s cooling loops with ammonia and lubricating one of the station’s massive solar alpha rotary joints.

This was the second of the four STS-134 spacewalks, for a mission total of 14 hours 26 minutes. It was the 246th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 116th from space station airlocks, and the 157th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, totaling 988 hours, 19 min. It was Feustel’s fifth spacewalk for a total time of 35 hours and 24 minutes; he is 30th on the all-time list. It was Fincke’s seventh spacewalk for a total time of 34 hours and 19 minutes; he is 32nd on the all-time list.

NASA Television will air a mission status briefing with STS-134 Lead Flight Director Derek Hassmann and STS-134 Lead Spacewalk Officer Allison Bolinger to discuss the spacewalk. The briefing was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. but likely will be delayed.