EVA tonight

[bobw]

Lets hope they get some goo out of the Elektron vent. They are going out the door in five minutes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

We're getting some unexpected live TV of the installation of the antenna for the German robot experiment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Routing the cable. There are 16 connectors, the astronauts were saying that the match marks don't line up when they are connected; it looks backwards. The controllers said that it depends on if they use their right hand or left which way the match marks end up. Sounds wierd. They are throwing away 14 plastic and 2 stainless steel connector caps. You can see them float away. It seems like stuff is hard to do on the Russian as well as the American section of the station. Robonaut couldn't do it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

They are still routing cables but are near the three vent ports, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and trace elements. 15 centemeters diameter around electron vent covered with white residue and black/brown, honeycomb, maybe solidified water. Brown residue by other vents. So far they have been told to take pictures but do not touch.<br /><br />Nice picture of a two foot section of solar cell that didn't deploy correctly 4 1/2 years ago. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

The controllers want astronauts to disconnect and re-connect connector 3-4. <br /><br />They are delaying thruster firing to de-saturate control moment gyros again. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

4 hours into spacewalk. It seems like they won't be able to check-out telemetry from robotic experiment again until next pass over Moscow.<br /><br />Going to install bio risk canisters outside door of Pirs. 3 canisters containing microorganisms to study effects of "space environment" on life. Earlier they mentioned study of radiation effects.<br /><br />They have been throwing the caps retrograde so the station doesn't crash into them later. 5 to 8 meters/sec relative velocity. <br /><br />I really miss the NASA helmet-cams when they work on the Russian segment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Either Leroy Chiao or Salizhan Sharipov was saying that something was "pulling" him, probably snagged teather. Hard to tell who because they're talking Russian and we only hear a translator in English. They are moving now.<br /><br />The last pass over Moscow showed that the power to the boom antenna was bad. They don't know if it is the module or the antenna. 50 minutes till next pass to test Rokviss again.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[najab]

><i>I agree that all those talks about possibly robonautic back-up of crew are just baseless journalist's delirium or pure sci-fi.</i><p>Not really. Robonaut has the full range of motion that a spacesuited astronaut would have and has the advantage that 'he' can stay outside indefinitely. Robonaut isn't supposed to replace humans in all activities, but aid them - anything an human can do with his hands he can do with Robonaut's hands, from the safety of inside the station.</p>

 

[najab]

><i>They have been throwing the caps retrograde so the station doesn't crash into them later. 5 to 8 meters/sec relative velocity. </i><p>I was just going to ask about that!</p>

 

[bobw]

<br />Sunrise again. 40 minutes to next telemetry pass for Rokviss.<br /><br />For all the discussion of the different EVA philosophy between NASA and RSA they seem to be getting a lot of help. Controllers told Leroy that he didn't need a wrench anymore. They told Salizhan what hand holds to use and which way to point his feet to get a better picture of the vents. He said that his position was "good enough" and to trust him <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> It stopped short of counting turns on bolts, though.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

<font color="yellow">anything an human can do with his hands he can do with Robonaut's hands, from the safety of inside the station.</font><br /><br />I don't think they can feel or co-ordinate their movements to help each other as much as people can. There's always something with space walks! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

They just disconnected and reconnected the cables to the antenna again prior to the telemetry pass. They have been having trouble with those wires all night long. They think they got them tight this time. 5 minutes till next pass for test. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

The Rokviss antenna telemetry is good this time. They fixed it! 100% mission success.<br /><br />The suits worked flawlessly this time. I was starting to worry about them from the last 2 times. They'll be heading back to Pirs soon.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Sublimators (suit cooling) deactivated, ingress, and inspection of door seal after removing protective ring. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Inspecting each other's suits and gloves for contamination. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Hatch closed. Seal was "nominal, dusty". <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Suits on station power and cooling. Re-pressurization continues. Looks like all is well. 1/2 hr. till internal hatch opens to station. I'm getting some sleep. I hope I didn't bore you too much but I'm a space walk junkie. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[najab]

Bore us? Ha! We're <b>all</b> space junkies of some kind here here. (Not to sure about jimglenn though...might be a spaced-out one <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />)