TWO ASTRONAUTS STEPPED INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS ON THE FOURTH AND FINAL SPACEWALK OF NASA’S
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Two astronauts stepped in to the story books upon the fourth and- final spacewalk of NASA’s next-to-last convey goal Friday, installing an prolongation stick during the International Space Station and- strictly finale the construction.
“Space hire public is complete,” space convey Endeavour’s commander, Mark Kelly, voiced once the bang was firmly latched.
Spacewalkers Mike Fincke as well as Gregory Chamitoff teamed up with drudge arm user Gregory Johnson to insert the 50-foot bang to the orbiting lab.
Fincke as well as Chamitoff have been the final convey organisation members to perform the spacewalk. All destiny spacewalks — together with the single during the final convey outing this summer — will be achieved by full-time space hire residents.
Another miracle was inside of tighten reach: 1,000 hours of spacewalking during the orbiting outpost.
Before Friday morning, astronauts had logged 995 hours outward for space hire public and- maintenance. With the programmed outing of 6 1/2 hours — the 159th spacewalk to set up the hire as well as keep it humming given 1998 — Fincke and- Chamitoff were staid to strike the 1,000-hour symbol prior to starting behind inside.
The space station’s new- bang was used by convey Endeavour’s organisation upon Thursday to consult their boat the single final time in orbit. They trustworthy the camera- as well as laser-tipped stick to the drudge arm to check for micrometeorite damage.
NASA expects to finish reviewing the 3-D images Friday; if all looks good, managers will transparent Endeavour for subsequent week’s outing home.
The boom, that launched aboard Endeavour, will sojourn henceforth during the space hire as well as support with destiny repairs, generally in hard-to-reach areas.
Endeavour, right away docked during the space station, is creation the final moody prior to being late to the notable relic in California. Atlantis will tighten out the 30-year convey module in July.
“Beautiful Endeavour,” Fincke called out as the spacewalk got underneath way. “She’s the good ship.”
“Looks similar to she belongs right there,” Chamitoff agreed.
The spacewalkers additionally savored the views 220 miles below.
“Most pleasing world in the solar complement — wow,” Fincke said.
Later Friday, Fincke will transcend the U.S. jot down of 377 days in space. He outlayed 6 months vital upon the space hire — twice. This is his initial convey trip; he formerly rode Russian Soyuz rockets in to orbit.
“I could not share this impulse with the organisation of improved people, together with the friends upon the ground,” Fincke radioed.
Endeavour and- the organisation of 6 will leave the space hire late Sunday night. Landing is set for the predawn hours of Wednesday during the singular touchdown in darkness.
