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December 22, 2013

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Astronauts on repair spacewalks at ISS

Source: Agencies | December 22, 2013, Sunday | Print Edition

Astronauts ventured out yesterday on the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line at the International Space Station.

The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, will need to perform two and, quite possibly, three spacewalks to replace an ammonia pump containing a bad valve.

Next will be tomorrow, followed by the third on Christmas Day if it’s needed.

The breakdown 10 days ago left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station vulnerable.

Mastracchio got off to a quick start on the repairs as he worked to disconnect the flawed pump. “Looking good so far,” he told Mission Control as he unhooked four ammonia fluid lines. He encountered a loose bolt and informed Mission Control he was afraid it might come off, but was assured everything was fine.

The pump replacement is a huge undertaking attempted only once before, back in 2010, on this very unit.

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