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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -Two astronauts stepped into the history books on the fourth and final spacewalk of NASA's next-to-last shuttle mission Friday, working to install an extension pole at the International Space Station.
As they emerged, Mike Fincke and Gregory Chamitoff became the last shuttle crew members to perform a spacewalk. All future spacewalks ââ¬â including one during the final shuttle voyage this summer ââ¬â will be performed by full-time space station residents.
Another milestone was within close reach: 1,000 hours of spacewalking at the orbiting outpost.
Before Friday morning, astronauts had logged 995 hours outside for space station assembly and maintenance. With a planned excursion of 6 1/2 hours ââ¬â the 159th spacewalk to build the station and keep it humming ââ¬â Fincke and Chamitoff were poised to hit the 1,000-hour mark before going back inside.
The boom being anchored to the space station was used by shuttle Endeavour's crew on Thursday to survey their ship one last time in orbit. They attached the camera- and laser-tipped pole to a robot arm to check for micrometeorite damage.
NASA expects to finish reviewing the 3-D images Friday; if everything looks good, managers will clear Endeavour for next week's trip home.
The boom, which launched aboard Endeavour, will remain permanently at the space station and assist with future repairs, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Endeavour, now docked at the space station, is making its last flight before being retired to a museum in California. Atlantis will close out the 30-year shuttle program in July.
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/story/last-shuttle-spacewalkers-make-history/788337/
As they emerged, Mike Fincke and Gregory Chamitoff became the last shuttle crew members to perform a spacewalk. All future spacewalks ââ¬â including one during the final shuttle voyage this summer ââ¬â will be performed by full-time space station residents.
Another milestone was within close reach: 1,000 hours of spacewalking at the orbiting outpost.
Before Friday morning, astronauts had logged 995 hours outside for space station assembly and maintenance. With a planned excursion of 6 1/2 hours ââ¬â the 159th spacewalk to build the station and keep it humming ââ¬â Fincke and Chamitoff were poised to hit the 1,000-hour mark before going back inside.
The boom being anchored to the space station was used by shuttle Endeavour's crew on Thursday to survey their ship one last time in orbit. They attached the camera- and laser-tipped pole to a robot arm to check for micrometeorite damage.
NASA expects to finish reviewing the 3-D images Friday; if everything looks good, managers will clear Endeavour for next week's trip home.
The boom, which launched aboard Endeavour, will remain permanently at the space station and assist with future repairs, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Endeavour, now docked at the space station, is making its last flight before being retired to a museum in California. Atlantis will close out the 30-year shuttle program in July.
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/story/last-shuttle-spacewalkers-make-history/788337/
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