Spacewalkers attach science experiments to ISS´ new lab

Source: Xinhua | 02-16-2008 12:43

Video Report: Astronauts conduct space walk

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two astronauts of U.S. space shuttle Atlantis' crew finished the mission's third and final spacewalk at 3:32 p.m. EST (2032 GMT) on Friday, attaching two science experiments to the International Space Station's new Columbus laboratory, according to NASA TV's live broadcasting.

Atlantis astronauts Stanley Love and Rex Walheim work on the Columbus module before installing it on the  International Space Station (ISS). Two astronauts have begun a second of three planned spacewalks to install the European laboratory on the ISS. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The two spacewalkers are mission specialists Rex Walheim and Stanley Love. Their excursion lasted seven hours and 25 minutes. Their excursion lasted seven hours and 25 minutes.

They successfully completed their primary task to install two science experiments on the exterior of the European-built Columbus lab. The new module was delivered recently by shuttle Atlantis and was attached to the station during Monday's first spacewalk.

The first experiment is SOLAR, an observatory to monitor the sun for two years. The second science platform is European Technology Exposure Facility that will carry nine experiments requiring exposure to the space environment.

In addition, Walheim and Love moved a massive, failed control moment gyroscope from its storage location on the station to Atlantis' payload bay for return to Earth.

With their primary chores complete, the duo examined a small divot on a handrail near the Quest airlock to collect data on whether it could be a possible source for glove damage on recent spacewalks. The tiny ding was discovered by spacwalkers on Monday. It is apparently the result of a micrometeorite hit.

Atlantis' crew and Expedition 16 astronauts at the station are continuing to outfit racks and systems inside the Columbus lab, preparing the module for the scientific work.

Atlantis with its crew onboard is slated to leave the station on Monday, with undocking slated for 4:26 a.m. EST (0926 GMT) that day. If all goes well, the shuttle will land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. on Wednesday, concluding NASA's first shuttle flight in 2008.