STS-120 Mission Updates: Part 1

by Space.com, staff

Date: 29 October 2007 Time: 03:09 AM ET

Second Spacewalk Ends for Shuttle Mission
28 October 2007 12:09 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani are repressurizing the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS), effectively ending today?s spacewalk, the second of five planned for the shuttle Discovery?s STS-120 mission.

Total spacewalking time: 6 hours, 33 minutes.

The two astronauts helped detach the Port 6 solar array truss from atop the ISS, outfitted the new Harmony node with new handrails, robotic arm grapple fixture and other equipment, inspected other handrails for sharp edges and examined a large solar array-turning joint.

A wrap up story of today?s spacewalking activities will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-120 mission to the International Space Station on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Spies Hometown as Spacewalk Nears End
28 October 2007 11:56 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Astronaut Dan Tani spotted his hometown of Lombard, Illinois, as he and crewmate Scott Parazynski wrap up a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).

?I?m looking at my hometown!? Tani said. ?Wow, what an awesome view.?

The two spacewalkers are back in the station?s Quest airlock after helping to detach the Port 6 solar array truss from its mast-like perch atop the ISS. They also outfitted the new Harmony node with new handrails, robotic arm grapple fixture and other equipment, inspected other handrails for sharp edges and examined a large solar array-turning joint. They were unable to replace an ISS circuit breaker box for lack of time.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers to Return to ISS Airlock
28 October 2007 11:38 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? As they pass the six-hour mark of their spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani are halting their work to install a robotic arm grappling point to the Earth-facing side of the station?s new Harmony node.

Today?s spacewalk began at about 5:32 a.m. EDT (0932 GMT). The astronauts helped detach the station?s Port 6 solar array, configure power and data cables for the solar power segment, installed handrails and other equipment to the exterior of the new Harmony node. Tani also inspected a large joint on the station?s starboard truss and found metal shavings inside, which the took samples of.

He also exampled a handrail suspected to have sharp edges, which could pose a risk to astronauts should it rip their protective spacesuits.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Attach Grapple Fixture to Harmony
28 October 2007 11:01 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani are now focusing on attaching a grapple fixture to the hull of the Harmony node outside the International Space Station (ISS) that will allow the outpost?s robotic arm to latch onto the module and move it to a permanent home early next month.

They are now near the 5.5-hour mark of a planned 6.5-hour spacewalk.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Outfit Space Station
28 October 2007 10:26 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski are Daniel Tani are nearing the five-hour mark of today?s planned 6.5-hour excursion outside the International Space Station (ISS) today.

Tani is wrangling stiff cables as he reroutes cabling that will transfer power between the station and its Port 6 (P6) solar array once the truss is reinstalled on Tuesday. Parazynski continues work outfitting the Harmony node for orbital flight as part of the ISS.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Complete ISS Joint Inspection, Outfit Harmony
28 October 2007 9:56 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Daniel Tani has completed his inspection of the International Space Station?s starboard solar array rotary joint, with Mission Control preparing to resume rotation of the 10-foot (three-meter) wide joint.

Meanwhile, Tani?s spacewalking partner Scott Parazynski is continuing work to outfit the Harmony node with new handrails and removing protective caps from other hardware.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Takes Samples of ISS Joint Shavings
28 October 2007 9:28 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Daniel Tani has taken a sample of the metal shavings he spotted inside the joint that rotates the International Space Station?s starboard solar arrays.

He used taped to gather several flakes of the material, which he described as shavings or filings akin to the toys in which children drag around iron filings with a large magnet. ?

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Take Closer Look at ISS Joint
28 October 2007 8:58 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Daniel Tani is taking a closer look at a large rotary joint on the starboard truss of the International Space Station (ISS). He removed the outer cover of part of the joint and reported seeing what appeared to be metal shavings coating part of the internal mechanism.

He also reported apparent damage on part of the structure and will swap digital cameras with spacewalking partner Scott Parazynski to take photographs.

?It?s quite clear that there?s metal to metal scraping, and it?s widespread,? Tani said.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Inspect ISS Joint, Outfit Harmony
28 October 2007 8:25 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Daniel Tani is inspecting a massive rotary joint designed to rotate the International Space Station?s (ISS) starboard solar arrays to track the Sun.

The solar arrays have been exhibiting some odd vibrations, which engineers thought might be due to some sort of obstruction such as bolt of thermal blanket jutting into the rotation path. Tani said he could see no sign of any obstruction or any other explanation as to why the vibration was occurring. He is now snapping photos of the 10-foot (three-meter) wide joint.

Meanwhile, his spacewalking partner Scott Parazynski continues to add new handrails to the station?s new Harmony node.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Array Truss Reaches Parking Spot, Spacewalk Continues
28 October 2007 8:01 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? As spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani continue their work outside the International Space Station (ISS), their robotic arm-wielding crewmates have completed work to move the massive Port 6 solar array truss to an overnight parking spot.

Lead robotics operator Stephanie Wilson and crewmate Douglas Wheelock used the space station?s 57-foot (17-meter) robotic arm to move the 17.5-ton Port 6 truss away from its perch atop the outpost?s Z1 truss and into an outboard spot within reach of the shuttle Discovery?s robotic arm.

The truss will stay there until early Monday, when it will be grabbed by Discovery?s robotic arm.

Parazynski continues to outfit the new Harmony node with handrails. Tani has completed his own handrail inspection on an equipment cart, where he looked for sharp edges, and is now inspecting a large rotary joint for any sign of friction or obstructions.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Outfit Harmony Node, Inspect Handrails
28 October 2007 7:36 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani have split up as they work outside the International Space Station (ISS), with one outfitting the newly installed Harmony node and the other hunting sharp edges on the outpost?s exterior.

Parazynski is installing new handrails and other equipment to the exterior of the station?s Harmony node. Tani, meanwhile, is inspecting a series of handrails on one of two tool-carrying carts that ISS engineers believe might have some sharp edges that could damage spacesuit gloves.

NASA cut short an August spacewalk during the Endeavour shuttle?s STS-118 mission when an astronaut found a small tear in the outer layers of his spacesuit glove. A spacewalker during a December 2006 mission also cut one of his gloves, though the damage wasn?t spotted until after the mission. Finding a possible source for the damage gloves will allow spacewalk planners to avoid similar damage in the future.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Power Tower Plucked Free from ISS
28 October 2007 7:16 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? The International Space Station?s (ISS) oldest U.S. solar power segment ? the Port 6 (P6) truss ? has been plucked free from its perch atop the outpost?s Z1 truss.

Wielding the station?s robotic arm, astronauts Stephanie Wilson and Douglas Wheelock eased the 17.5-ton P6 segment free after spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani removed four bolts, four grounding straps and nine power and data connections linking the truss to the ISS. It is the truss?s first move since its installation in 2000.

?Don?t drop it,? joked Parazynski to the robotic arm operators as the truss slowly moved away. ?Good driving.?

The two astronauts then headed back to the station?s new Harmony module, where they will install handrails, a robotic arm attachment point and other equipment.

?Hey, the station looks different now,? Parazynski said.

?Oh, that?s right, there?s a piece that?s gone,? Tani said.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Work to Unbolt ISS Truss Segment
28 October 2007 6:54 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani have successfully removed four bolts securing the old Port 6 truss (P6) truss to the International Space Station (ISS).

Earlier, they disconnected nine power and data cables, as well as four grounding straps. A capture claw will hold the massive 17.5-ton girder in place until it is time to pluck it free using the station?s robotic arms.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Disconnect Lines, Bolts on Solar Power Tower
28 October 2007 6:28 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ?Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani have disconnected nine power and data umbilical lines connecting the old Port 6 (P6) solar array truss to the International Space Station (ISS).

The are now manually removing four bolts anchoring the 17.5-ton solar power truss segment to the top of the station?s Z1 truss. Once removed, the truss will be held in place by a capture claw that will be released to allow the station?s robotic arm to lift the structure clear.

Inside the ISS, astronauts Douglas Wheelock and Stephanie Wilson are wielding the station?s robotic arm.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Exit Space Station Airlock
28 October 2007 5:55 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ?Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani have left the Quest airlock and are now working outside the International Space Station (ISS) for today?s busy spacewalk.

?Is it good to be back Dan?? asked Parazynski.

?It?s good to be back in space,? replied Tani, who is making his second spaceflight as a new member of the station?s Expedition 16 crew.

The astronauts are now heading to the station?s Z1 truss atop the Unity node, which serves as the base of the Port 6 solar power segment. There, they will detach a series of power and data connections along with four large bolts so the 17.5-ton solar power segment can be pried loose from its mount by the station?s robotic arm.

- Tariq Malik

Second Spacewalk Begins for Shuttle Mission
28 October 2007 5:28 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ?Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani have officially begun their second spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), with their spacesuits now on internal power and the outer Quest airlock hatch open.

The spacewalk began at about 5:34 a.m. EDT (0934 GMT).

?It?s a beautiful day, look at that,? Tani said.

- Tariq Malik

Space Crane Operators Grapple ISS Solar Power Truss
28 October 2007 5:28 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? While spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani prepare to begin today?s spacewalk to pluck the massive Port 6 solar power truss free of the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts inside the orbital laboratory have taken firm hold of the mast-like segment.

Discovery shuttle astronauts Stephanie Wilson and Douglas Wheelock used the station?s 57-foot (17-meter) robotic arm to latch onto the Port 6 truss. They will pry the 17.5-ton station segment free of its mount atop the station?s central Z1 truss once Parazynski and Tani disconnect a series of bolts and umbilical lines.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Set to Begin Second Spacewalk
28 October 2007 4:56 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Scott Parazynski and Daniel Tani are gearing up for the second spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) and are about an hour ahead of their planned schedule.

The astronauts are clad in their white NASA spacesuits and inside the crew lock portion of the station?s Quest airlock, with the compartment?s depressurization under way and hatch opening to follow. They were due to begin today?s spacewalk at 5:58 a.m. EDT (0958 GMT), but are well ahead of schedule.

The primary tasks for today?s spacewalk: detaching the massive, 17.5-ton Port 6 solar power truss from its mast-like perch atop the ISS in the first stage in a three-day, two spacewalk process of moving the solar power segment to the port edge of the station?s main truss.

Mission Control awoke the crew at about 12:08 a.m. EDT (0408 GMT) with the song ?What a Wonderful World? by Louis Armstrong, a tune chosen specifically for veteran spaceflyer Scott Parazynski.

?Good morning Discovery! A special good morning to you today Scott,? NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid told the crew from Mission Control. ?It's a great day for an EVA.?

?That's how you do it Shannon! That's how you start the day in space,? Parazynski said. ?I can't think of a more beautiful way to begin the day than hear those words. It really describes the view from space, especially as seen through an EMU visor. Really looking forward to it, getting out there with my good friend Dan. I'd like to thank my wife Gail and my kids Luke and Jenna. They really help me see the wonder of the world. Have a great day Shannon.?

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Christen Harmony Node Aboard ISS
27 October 2007 8:36 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? The newest addition to the International Space Station is open for business, temporarily, as astronauts opened the hatch to the outpost?s new Harmony node.

Wearing protective masks and goggles, ISS Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and Italian shuttle astronaut Paolo Nespoli opened the hatch to the Italian-built node at 8:24 a.m. EDT (1224 GMT).

The node is parked at a temporary docking port on the station?s Unity module. It will be moved later once the shuttle Discovery departs the ISS on Nov. 4.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare to Open New ISS Room
27 October 2007 6:28 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? The 10 astronauts aboard NASA?s shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing the new Harmony node for its grand entrance aboard the orbital laboratory. Hatch opening is set for about 8:58 a.m. EDT (1258 GMT).

The astronauts are running power and data conne