SPACE.com -- ISS Crew Prepares For June Spacewalk

Astronaut Michael Fincke, Expedition 9 NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, works with the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuits in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station. CREDIT: NASA/JSC. Click to enlarge.

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	ISS Crew Prepares For June Spacewalk By SPACE.com Staff posted: 09:30 pm ET 24 May 2004

The two-man crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will perform the first spacewalk of their six-month mission no earlier than June 16, almost a week later that originally planned

The two-man crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will perform the first spacewalk of their six-month mission no earlier than June 16, almost a week later that originally planned.

ISS Expedition 9 commander Gennady Padalka and NASA science officer Michael Fincke have conducted a dress rehearsal to check their space suits for the upcoming spacewalk, during which they are expected to replace a failed power controller along the space station's truss. The spacewalk was originally planned for June 10.

The power controller, called a remote power control unit, acts as a circuit breaker and power supply for one of the space station's three functioning gyroscopes. The gyroscopes keep the outpost positioned properly. The controller failed on April 21, cutting off power to its assigned gyroscope and leaving the station with only the two gyroscopes needed to maintain orientation.

Padalka and Fincke went over each of their U.S.-built extravehicular mobility units (EMUs), spacesuits stored in the station's Quest module, with a fine-tooth comb to ensure both were spacewalk-ready. But during the recent suit checkout, Padalka told mission control his spacesuit wasn't cooling properly.

Padalka told ISS mission controllers that he found small bubbles and froth in water that is supposed to circulate in throughout the EMU's cooling lines. He and Fincke drained and refilled the EMU's water supply Friday and were expected to test the suit again on Saturday. If additional troubleshooting is needed, the Expedition 9 crewmembers may also test a check valve in the EMU's cooling system.

The cooling suit in Fincke's spacesuit was also not without its glitches, but a sticky valve was identified as the culprit and should not affect the suit's operation.

Another spacesuit dress rehearsal, possibly set for June 4, will be required if Padalka's troubleshooting techniques are successful, a NASA ISS status report stated. A Russian set of Orlan spacesuits could also be used to perform the spacewalk if necessary, it went on.

Meanwhile, the Progress 13 cargo ship full of trash was set to undock from the ISS at about 5:19 a.m. (0919 GMT) this morning to make way for a fresh supply of food, fuel and equipment. That ship, Progress 14, is packed with 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) of supplies and expected to launch from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 25 at 8:34 a.m. EDT (1234 GMT).

Progress 14 should arrive at the ISS on May 27. It's 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) docking will be broadcast live on NASA TV.

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