Risky space walk powers up station
TWO astronauts pulled off a riskier and trickier-than-usual spacewalk, replacing a failed electric motor and giving the international space station a much-needed power boost.
By Agencies |
CAPE CANAVERAL: TWO astronauts pulled off a riskier and trickier-than-usual spacewalk, replacing a failed electric motor and giving the international space station a much-needed power boost.
The station’s power system still has problems; a joint for rotating one set of solar wings is mysteriously clogged with metal shavings and cannot be fixed until later this year. Wednesday’s successful operation, however, added to the power margin at the orbiting outpost and cleared the way for the deliveries of two science labs.
Atlantis is supposed to lift off with the European Space Agency’s Columbus lab next week after a two-month delay, but a new problem could force yet another postponement. An inspection Tuesday uncovered a bent radiator hose in the shuttle’s payload bay. The hose works as is and does not leak Freon, but some engineers fear it could break from the vibrations during liftoff.
Shuttle programme manager Wayne Hale said his team will review the problem again Saturday and, until then, preparations will proceed toward a February 7 launch.
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