NASA Sets Spacewalks to Repair Faulty Pump

[Waspie_Dwarf]

NASA Postpones Orbital Launch, Sets Spacewalks to Repair Faulty Pump Module

NASA managers are postponing the upcoming Orbital Sciences commercial cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station to proceed with a series of spacewalks to replace a faulty pump module on the space station.

NASA Television will air a news briefing at 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to preview the spacewalks.

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[+DieChecker]

Man, it seems like this could have been done a couple days ago, the crew said they were ready and had the parts.

Guess that you just can't be too carefull when you are hundreds of miles above the ground.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Guess that you just can't be too carefull when you are hundreds of miles above the ground.

Exactly. Why risk the lives of two men if you can fix it from the ground by remote control?

Remember also that the last time NASA performed a spacewalk Luca Parmitano nearly drowned when his suit's cooling system sprang a leak and started to fill his helmet up with water.

[+DieChecker]

Exactly. Why risk the lives of two men if you can fix it from the ground by remote control?

Remember also that the last time NASA performed a spacewalk Luca Parmitano nearly drowned when his suit's cooling system sprang a leak and started to fill his helmet up with water.

Oh, it was only his helmet? I had read (online editing must suck) that it was his whole suit filling up with water.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Oh, it was only his helmet? I had read (online editing must suck) that it was his whole suit filling up with water.

It may well have been, but you don't drown when your left trouser leg fills up with water. When it's a spacesuit helmet however...

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Expedition 38 Gets Ready for U.S. and Russian Spacewalks

Flight Engineers Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins continue preparing for a series of spacewalks to remove a failed pump module and install a spare pump module. NASA managers have planned for the first spacewalk to begin Saturday, the second on Monday and if necessary a third spacewalk on Christmas day.

Source

[Frank Merton]

Guess that you just can't be too carefull when you are hundreds of miles above the ground.

Nominate that for understatement of the week.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Station Spacewalks to Replace Pump Module

Lead U.S. Spacewalk Officer Allison Bolinger discusses the details of the three spacewalks the Expedition 38 crew will conduct to replace a faulty pump module on the International Space Station. Flight Engineers Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins will venture out of the station's Quest airlock on Dec. 21, 23 and 25 to remove a pump module that has a failed valve and replace it with an existing spare that is stored on an external stowage platform. The pump is associated with one of the station's two external cooling loops, which circulate ammonia outside the station to keep both internal and external equipment cool.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

NASA Previews Spacewalks to Replace ISS Coolant Pump

During NASA Television press briefing from Johnson Space Center, agency managers discussed a series of planned spacewalks, Dec. 21, 23 and 25 by NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins to replace a faulty coolant pump on the International Space Station.

The pump is associated with one of the station's two external cooling loops, which circulate ammonia outside the station to keep both internal and external equipment cool.

The previously planned Orbital Sciences commercial cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station has been postponed until no earlier than mid-January. The postponement will allow ample time for the station crew to focus on repairing the pump module, which stopped working properly on Dec. 11.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Astronauts Finalizing Spacewalk Preparations

NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata gathered together Thursday to review spacewalk procedures. Mastracchio and Hopkins will exit the station to replace a faulty pump module over a series of spacewalks. Wakata will operate the station’s robotic arm to maneuver the spacewalkers at the worksite.

The first spacewalk is scheduled for Saturday at 7:10 a.m. EDT when the spacewalkers will set up the worksite on the S1 truss. Monday’s spacewalk will include the removal of the old pump module and the installation of a spare pump module. If necessary a third spacewalk would occur on Christmas day to finalize the installation of the new pump module.

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[Waspie_Dwarf]

Expedition 38 Ready for Series of Spacewalks Beginning Saturday

NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins are wrapping up their preparations for Saturday’s spacewalk. Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata is completing his review of the tasks he will perform as the robotic arm operator during the spacewalk.

The spacewalkers finished collecting their tools they will use outside the International Space Station. The duo also finished setting up their spacesuits they will wear Saturday.

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