NASA: Focus Reigns at Mission Control in Spacewalk

This view from the helmet camera of astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria shows his spacewalking partner Sunita Williams as she takes a photograph in a Feb. 8, 2007 spacewalk. CREDIT: NASA TV.

WASHINGTON -- Despite being stunned by a NASA astronaut's arrest earlier this week, flight controllers were focused and on task at the agency's International Space Station (ISS) Mission Control during a Thursday spacewalk, mission managers said today.

ISS Expedition 14 astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and flight engineer Sunita Williams performed a successful six-hour, 40 minute spacewalk to support assembly of the orbital laboratory.

"It was another very, very successful EVA today," Derek Hassmann, NASA's lead U.S. spacewalk flight director, told reporters of the post-extravehicular activity (EVA) briefing.

The spacewalk marked the Expedition 14 crew's third in nine days -- a first without a visiting shuttle mission -- but also the first following the Monday arrest of NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak, whom police charged with attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and other counts stemming from a confrontation with a woman whom she believed to be a rival for the affections of another astronaut William Oefelein.

Nowak returned to Houston, Texas -- home to NASA's Johnson Space Center, astronaut corps and ISS Mission Control -- on Wednesday.

Shana Dale, NASA's deputy administrator, told reporters Wednesday that JSC director Michael Coats met with the agency's astronaut corps to discuss the need to stay focused on ongoing ISS missions and shuttle training.

That focus, ISS mission managers said Thursday, carried over into NASA's Mission Control, where the agency's chief astronaut Steve Lindsey could be seen on NASA TV at times speaking with ISS mission controllers during today's spacewalk.

"I was extremely proud of how folks focused and were able to bear down and do exactly what they needed to do," Hassmann said.

Kirk Shireman, NASA's deputy ISS program manager, said Lopez-Alegria -- who set a new U.S. spacewalking record Thursday -- Williams had spoken with Lindsey and were aware of the status of Nowak, who has been placed on a 30-day leave.

"I think it's safe to assume that they know all about the current situation," Shireman said of the Expedition 14 crew. "They were very focused and we're very pleased about their performance these past few days."

Glenda Laws, NASA's lead Expedition 14 spacewalk officer, said the mood in Mission Control was straight to business.

"Everyone was certainly aware what was going on, but they kept their nose pressed to the books and we pressed on," Laws said. "That's the way it works here at NASA. Everyone is devoted and conscientious about getting the work done."

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