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Smooth, 6.5 Hour Spacewalk To Fix ISS Ammonia Pump

Posted by timothy on from the easy-peasy-space-is-breezy dept.

The ISS crew can breathe a little easier now; the NY Times reports that the ammonia pump repair that the station has needed has now been partly completed, and in less time than expected. More work is scheduled, but, says The Times: "The astronauts, Col. Michael S. Hopkins of the Air Force and Richard A. Mastracchio, were far ahead of schedule throughout the spacewalk as they detached tubing and electrical connectors from the pump. They were able to remove the 780-pound module and move it to a temporary storage location, a task that had been scheduled for a second spacewalk on Monday. ... Colonel Hopkins and Mr. Mastracchio stepped out of an airlock at 7:01 a.m. Eastern time, and even though they accomplished more than they had set out to do, they were able to return at 12:29 p.m., an hour earlier than had been scheduled. The two encountered few complications." Ars Technica has video, too.

4 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Overly optimistic by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

    As everyone knows, all projects involve several trips to Home Depot for the odd tool or bolt that was overlooked in the initial planning stage.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:Overly optimistic by nickserv · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm wondering if one of those problems was ending up with extra bolts at the end that don't match up to any of the empty spots....

      I used to do this as a kid with old typewriters dad would bring home for me to take apart and put back together. There would usually be parts left over at the end but because everything still worked dad said I had made the machines "more efficient."

      And yea, the lack of interest in space even amongst the geek community is appalling.

      --
      Less *is* more.
    2. Re:Overly optimistic by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1, Funny

      I used to do this as a kid with old typewriters dad would bring home for me to take apart and put back together. There would usually be parts left over at the end but because everything still worked dad said I had made the machines "more efficient."

      I used to do this when I was racing motorcycles. It was called 'adding lightness'.

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      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  2. Re:Excuse the pedantry... by PNutts · · Score: 4, Funny

    I know it's a nitpick, but isn't 7:01 a.m. - 12:29 p.m. more like 5.5 hours? I understand that they were an hour faster than planned (meaning they planned 6.5 hours) but the title seems a bit off nonetheless...

    Considering the ISS orbits the earth about every 90 minutes, it was more like 3 days and an hour.

    Nickpick +5