STS-119 Mission Updates: Part 2

by SPACE.com Staff

Date: 21 March 2009 Time: 10:16 PM ET

Wing with a View: This camera view shows one of the two new starboard ISS solar wings deployed on March 20, 2009 by the STS-119 crew.
CREDIT: NASA TV.

Second Spacewalk Ends at ISS
21 March 2009 7:33 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba have begun repressurizing the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station, officially ending today?s spacewalk work. The spacewalk ended at 7:21 p.m. EDT (2321 FMT)

Total spacewalking time: 6 hours, 30 minutes.

Click here for SPACE.com?s wrap up of today?s work in orbit.

Swanson and Acaba installed a new GPS antenna on the station?s Japanese Kibo lab, performed cable maintenance on a control panel, prepared a solar array worksite for future maintenance and attempted to deploy a cargo carrier. They also conducted a photo survey of the station?s radiators, one of which is damaged.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-119 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

Spacewalkers Return to Station Airlock
21 March 2009 7:20 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are back inside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station after spending more than six hours on maintenance work outside.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT). The astronauts installed a new GPS antenna on the station?s Japanese Kibo lab, performed cable maintenance on a control panel, prepared a solar array worksite for future maintenance and attempted to deploy a cargo carrier. They also conducted a photo survey of the station?s radiators, one of which is damaged.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Secure Stubborn Cargo Carrier
21 March 2009 6:56 p.m. EDT

Spacewalker Steven Swanson has returned to the site of the station?s portside cargo carrier, where a recalcitrant pin has prevented the platform from being fully deployed.

With time running short, Swanson will secure the platform in place and then head back inside the station?s airlock. His spacewalking partner Joseph Acaba is already returning to the airlock due to limitations on his consumables. He will wait for Swanson to end his work.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours. It has just passed the 6-hour mark.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Tackle Final Tasks
21 March 2009 6:24 p.m. EDT

As they near the six-hour mark of today?s spacewalk outside the International Space Station, astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are set to tackle their final tasks.

They will perform maintenance on a cable panel and secure the spare parts platform that they were unable to set up earlier.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Install Antenna, Scan Radiators
21 March 2009 5:50 p.m. EDT

Spacewalker Steven Swanson is wrapping up work to install a new GPS antenna on the space station?s Japanese laboratory. His spacewalking partner Joseph Acaba is using an infrared camera to take images and video of a damaged radiator on the station?s starboard side.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Split Up for Chores
21 March 2009 5:19 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba have now split up to tackle their remaining tasks: radiator photography and the installation a GPS antenna on the outpost?s Japanese Kibo lab to help guide Japan?s first space freighter set to launch later this year.

Swanson will install the antenna and perform maintenance work on some station cables. Acaba will use visible light camera, as well as an infrared camera, to photograph the space station?s radiators, one of which is damaged.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Stuck Pin Thwarts Spare Parts Platform Move
21 March 2009 4:48 p.m. EDT

A stuck pin blocking attempts to deploy a swing-out spare parts platform outside the International Space Station has thwarted attempts by spacewalkers to set up the cargo carrier.

?I don?t think it?s moving right now, we need another plan,? spacewalker Steven Swanson said.

Mission Control has told Swanson and crewmate Joseph Acaba to move on to their other major chores, including some cable maintenance work,? photography of a damaged radiator and the installation of a new antenna to aid the arrival of Japan?s first space freighter later this year.

The planned set up of a second spare parts platform has been canceled due to delays with the first one.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Tackle Stubborn Cargo Platform
21 March 2009 4:24 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are continuing work to set up a swing-out spare parts platform, as they work through some trouble with a stubborn pin.

Inside the space station, astronaut Sandra Magnus has activated the outpost?s repaired urine recycling system and reported that it appears to be working fine. Today?s test is a dry run to make sure the device is working properly. If all goes well, the system will be used to filter urine back into drinking water in another test on Sunday.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Tackle Station?s Cargo Platform
21 March 2009 3:24 p.m. EDT

Now working in orbital night, spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are manhandling a swing-out spare parts platform into place on the space station?s port side.

The platform is one of two the astronauts will set up during today?s spacewalk. Earlier, they loosened bolts and set up tools near the station?s oldest solar array batteries so future spacewalkers can have an easier job replacing later this year.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Prepare ISS Spare Parts Port
21 March 2009 3:04 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are working to set up one of the two attachment points for the spare part platform sites they will be working at today.

While they were preparing for the task, an alarm sounded as the space station temporarily lost attitude control when its U.S-built gyroscopes became overwhelmed. Soon after, the station was placed under the control of the docked shuttle Discovery. The switch has not affected today?s spacewalk, but the spacewalkers heard the alarm in their spacesuit radios and asked for an update.

?That?s what that was,? Acaba said after hearing the news. ?I thought something sounded different.?

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Complete ISS Battery Work
21 March 2009 2:24 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba have wrapped up work to prepare the space station?s oldest set of solar array batteries to be replaced on a future spacewalk and are gearing up for their next chore: setting up one of two cargo carrier ports they will work on today.

The astronauts will prepare the berthing spot for the arrival of a spare parts platform, which is due at the station later this year.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is slated to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Work on Station?s Port Edge
21 March 2009 1:48 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are working at to the port edge of the International?s Space Station?s 356-foot (108-meter) metal spine.

The astronauts are at the space station?s Port 6 truss, a solar array segment, where they plan to loosen a set of battery bolts so the batteries can be easily replaced by future spacewalkers. They are also setting up foot restraints and other tools for that future maintenance job.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Reboot Spacesuit, Exit Station
21 March 2009 1:12 p.m. EDT

Astronaut Steven Swanson just rebooted his spacesuit for today?s spacewalk, powering its fan and communications off for about seven seconds and then switching everything back on after a brief glitch with one of his electronic displays.

?I?ve got a good display,? Swanson said. ?Fantastic.?

He and spacewalking partner Joseph Acaba and have exited the space station?s Quest airlock.

?Joe, great seeing you outside, welcome to EVA,? said astronaut Richard Arnold II, who is choreographing the spacewalk from inside Discovery, using NASA?s term for spacewalking.

?Thank you,? Acaba called back.

Today?s spacewalk is the first for Acaba, who is making his first spaceflight. It is the fourth for veteran spacewalker Swanson.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Second Spacewalk Begins at ISS
21 March 2009 12:59 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba have officially begun the second spacewalk of the shuttle Discovery?s mission to the International Space Station.

The spacewalk began at 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT) and is expected to run about 6 1/2 hours. The astronauts have a wide variety of chores to prepare the station for future assembly.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Depressurize Airlock for Spacewalk
21 March 2009 12:36 p.m. EDT

Clad in bulky NASA spacesuits, Discovery shuttle astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are depressurizing the Quest airlock on the International Space Station as they prepare to begin today?s spacewalk, the second of their mission.

Today?s spacewalk is due to begin at 12:43 p.m. EDT (1643 GMT) and last about 6 1/2 hours. The astronauts have a laundry list of maintenance and construction chores on their docket.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare for Second Spacewalk
21 March 2009 11:56 a.m. EDT

Discovery shuttle astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are pushing ahead with plans to begin today?s spacewalk outside the International Space Station for a series of maintenance chores.

The astronauts are strapping into emergency rocket packs, which would be used to fly back to the space station in the very remote chance they are separated from the structure.

Today?s spacewalk is due to begin at 12:43 p.m. EDT (1643 GMT) and last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Suit Up for Spacewalk
21 March 2009 11:06 a.m. EDT

Discovery shuttle astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba have climbed into their NASA-issue spacesuits as they prepare to step outside the International Space Station on the second spacewalk of their mission.

The astronauts are due to begin their work at about 12:43 p.m. EDT (1643 GMT) and have a laundry list of construction and maintenance chores to do. It will be the fourth career spacewalk for veteran spaceflyer Swanson and the first for Acaba, who is? aformer schoolteacher and making his first spaceflight.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day STS-119 mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Wake Up to Pilgrim and Trout
21 March 2009 7:52 a.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station are starting the day for what will be their second spacewalk.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview of today?s work in orbit.

Mission Control roused the shuttle crew at about 7:53 a.m. EDT (1153 GMT) with the song ?In a Little While? by the band Pilgrim and Trout. The tune was selected for Discovery mission specialist and former schoolteacher Richard Arnold II.

?Good morning, Discovery! And a special good morning to Ricky,? astronaut Janice Voss radioed up from Mission Control.

?Good morning, Houston, and thanks to Eloise, Carrie and Jess for the song,? Arnold called back. ?We?re ready for another great day on orbit.?

Arnold will choreograph today?s spacewalk by astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba, which is set to begin at about 12:43 p.m. EDT (1643 GMT). It is Flight Day 7 of Discovery?s 13-day mission.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Camp Out for Spacewalk
21 March 2009 1:17 a.m. EDT

Discovery shuttle astronauts Steven Swanson and Joseph Acaba are camping out in the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station to prepare of a planned Saturday spacewalk.

The camp out allows Swanson and Acaba to sleep under a lower pressure than the rest of the station and docked shuttle. It allows them to purge nitrogen from their bodies to prevent getting the bends during their spacewalk.

Saturday?s spacewalk is set to begin at 12:43 p.m. EDT (1643 GMT) and due to run about 6 1/2 hours. It is aimed at preparing the space station for future construction.

The astronauts are due to awaken at 7:43 a.m. EDT (1143 GMT).

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Tackle Space Urine Recycler Fix
20 March 2009 7:26 p.m. EDT

With the space station?s new solar wings successfully deployed, astronauts inside have tuned their attention over to much-needed repairs.

Discovery shuttle astronaut Sandra Magnus is replacing a urine distillation assembly used to filter urine back into pure drinking water. The processor broke down in late December and is part of a larger system designed to recycler astronaut urine, sweat and cabin condensation back into potable water for drinking, food preparation and technical uses.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Space Station?s Solar Wings Unfurled
20 March 2009 1:25 p.m. EDT

Both of the international Space Station?s new solar arrays have been successful deployed, marking the completion of the orbiting laboratory?s power grid.

?An initial look looks good for the full deployment,? Discovery shuttle skipper Lee Archambault radioed down to Mission Control.

?Tremendous news, great work guys,? Mission Control called back. ?You?ve got a whole bunch of happy people down here as well.?

Today?s solar array deployment began at 11:06 a.m. EDT (1506 GMT) and ended at 1:17 p.m. EDT (1717 GMT). It last just over 2 hours, less than half time NASA planned for the extension.

A wrap up of today?s work so far will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage.

Click here for SPACE.com?s look at today?s solar wing expansion.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the space station.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Begin Second New ISS Wing Stretch
20 March 2009 12:43 p.m. EDT

The second of two new solar wings for the International Space Station is now being unfurled to its halfway mark as today?s solar array extension continues.

Like its counterpart earlier, the wing was extended to the midpoint of its full 115-foot (35-meter) length and will now bake in the sun to reduce the amount of sticking between its individual folds.

Click here for SPACE.com?s look at today?s solar wing expansion.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the spa