Spacewalking astronaut runs into repairs trouble
Source: Agencies |
May 23, 2011, Monday
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A SPACEWALKING astronaut ran into trouble while trying to lubricate a critical joint in the power system of the International Space Station yesterday, losing a bolt and getting a washer stuck in a crevice.
Mission Control told astronaut Mike Fincke he might have to settle for a partial lube job, rather than the complete greasing.
The spacewalk started out well enough, with Fincke and partner Andrew Feustel topping off a leaky radiator line. They successfully added ammonia to the space station's coolant system, after rerouting jumper cables and opening valves. One line leaks slightly, and the astronauts needed to recharge it.
Ammonia is extremely hazardous, and the two did their best to avoid contaminating their spacesuits while replenishing the system with about 2.3 kilograms of the substance.
Fincke moved on to preventive maintenance on the large joint that rotates the space station's solar wings on the left side. He was removing covers when a bolt got away from him. He caught it. But another bolt ended up floating away, and a washer got stuck between the cover and an attachment.
Mission Control worried the washer might get in the gear mechanisms of the joint and damage them. Fincke was advised to use "gentle backhand sweeping motions" to get the washer away from the gears, and the astronaut replied he could try to coax it out.
All this came as a surprise, and Mission Control later told the astronauts that the washers might be bent and flimsy from previous repair efforts.
"Sorry you're having such a hard time with those bolts, buddy," Feustel called out to Fincke.
"Yeah, man, I was being really careful, too," Fincke replied.
After debating how to proceed flight controllers instructed Fincke to remove only some of the covers from the joint: "We'll do the best job we can." He promised to be careful. Another bolt popped out and almost got away, but Fincke caught it. Mission Control said: "He gets a golden glove award for another catch."
NASA wants to lubricate as much of the joint as possible to keep it functioning properly in the years ahead without any shuttle visits.
It was the second of four spacewalks planned for Endeavour's final trip to the space station and the aim is to ready the space station for its next decade of operation.
Mission Control told astronaut Mike Fincke he might have to settle for a partial lube job, rather than the complete greasing.
The spacewalk started out well enough, with Fincke and partner Andrew Feustel topping off a leaky radiator line. They successfully added ammonia to the space station's coolant system, after rerouting jumper cables and opening valves. One line leaks slightly, and the astronauts needed to recharge it.
Ammonia is extremely hazardous, and the two did their best to avoid contaminating their spacesuits while replenishing the system with about 2.3 kilograms of the substance.
Fincke moved on to preventive maintenance on the large joint that rotates the space station's solar wings on the left side. He was removing covers when a bolt got away from him. He caught it. But another bolt ended up floating away, and a washer got stuck between the cover and an attachment.
Mission Control worried the washer might get in the gear mechanisms of the joint and damage them. Fincke was advised to use "gentle backhand sweeping motions" to get the washer away from the gears, and the astronaut replied he could try to coax it out.
All this came as a surprise, and Mission Control later told the astronauts that the washers might be bent and flimsy from previous repair efforts.
"Sorry you're having such a hard time with those bolts, buddy," Feustel called out to Fincke.
"Yeah, man, I was being really careful, too," Fincke replied.
After debating how to proceed flight controllers instructed Fincke to remove only some of the covers from the joint: "We'll do the best job we can." He promised to be careful. Another bolt popped out and almost got away, but Fincke caught it. Mission Control said: "He gets a golden glove award for another catch."
NASA wants to lubricate as much of the joint as possible to keep it functioning properly in the years ahead without any shuttle visits.
It was the second of four spacewalks planned for Endeavour's final trip to the space station and the aim is to ready the space station for its next decade of operation.
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