Realtime coverage of STS-133 EVA No. 1
By WILLIAM HARWOOD
CBS News
05:30 p.m. EST Update: Astronauts complete spacewalk; capture vacuum of space for educational project
At the end of a "textbook" spacewalk, astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew paused before returning to the International Space Station's Quest airlock module so Drew could open a valve and "fill" a small container with the vacuum of space as part of a Japanese educational initiative.
After their crewmates played a recording of "Message in a Bottle" by the Police, Bowen grabbed a camera and with the Japanese Kibo laboratory module behind him, Drew opened the bottle to space while Bowen snapped pictures.
The astronauts then returned to the Quest airlock, closed the hatch, hooked their suits to ship power and repressurized the compartment to officially end a six-hour 34-minute spacewalk.
The spacewalk began at 10:46 a.m. EST (GMT-5) and ended at 5:20 p.m. This was the 154th spacewalk devoted to space station assembly and maintenance since construction began in 1998, pushing total EVA time to 967 hours and 39 minutes. It was the first spacewalk for Drew and the sixth for Bowen, pushing his total to 41 hours and four minutes and moving him from 29th to 19th on the list of most experienced spacewalkers.
The astronauts successfully installed a backup power cable for the Tranquility module, stowed a failed ammonia coolant system pump and carried out a variety of maintenance tasks ranging from insulation repairs to installation of a wedge to provide needed clearance between an external television camera and a storage platform.
"You guys did an excellent job today, you rocked," spacewalk coordinator Nicole Stott radioed from inside the shuttle-station complex.
Timothy Kopra, who was replaced by Bowen after he was injured in a bicycle accident in Houston last month, passed along his congratulations as well.
"To the whole team, great work completing a textbook EVA," he said. "And Al, congratulations for a stellar job on your first spacewalk. Good job, dude."
"Thanks, Tim, couldn't have one it without you," replied Drew, the 200th person to walk in space.
02:50 p.m. EST Update: Astronauts stow failed pump module
Astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew successfully moved a 780-pound ammonia pump module from a temporary mounting point, where it was left after emergency repair work in August, to an insulated enclosure where it will remain until it's loaded aboard the shuttle Atlantis this summer for return to Earth.
Bowen, anchored to the end of the space station's robot arm, carried the boxy pump module from the forward side of the station's solar power truss to a cargo storage pallet on the Quest airlock. Assisted by Drew, Bowen slid the pump into its enclosure and the astronauts locked it in place.
A vent line was attached that will be used during a spacewalk Wednesday to release any residual ammonia trapped inside the pump.
The pump move went smoothly after an unexpected robot arm work station shut down that forced station commander Scott Kelly and Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt to switch to a spare workstation inside the Destiny laboratory module. The original work station, mounted in the multi-window cupola, later was re-activated.
With the pump module in place, the spacewalkers have accomplished the two primary objectives of the spacewalk. The astronauts now will turn their attention to a variety of maintenance tasks, including installation of a tool stanchion, insulation repair work on the upper Z1 truss segment and installation of a wedge to tilt an external camera away from a newly installed cargo pallet. If time is available, rail extensions will be added to the starboard end of a track used by the robot arm's mobile transporter.
01:10 p.m. EST Update: Robot arm controls shut down; operators move to backup work station in station lab module
The robot arm workstation in the space station's multi-window cupola suddenly shut down today as spacewalker Stephen Bowen, anchored to the end of the arm, was preparing to move a large ammonia coolant pump.
Facing a half-hour reboot procedure, station commander Scott Kelly and Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt opted to move into the Destiny laboratory module where a second robot arm work station was available. The equipment and displays are identical, but operators in Destiny have to rely on television views instead of direct line of sight.
Bowen, holding onto the failed pump module, simply waited on the end of the arm while his station colleagues got the backup work station running. A few minutes past 1 p.m., arm operations resumed.
"I've got a hot-shot station crew that moved this robotic work station in a second," Barratt radioed. "So this verifies the snares are open, that Steve has the pump module, correct?
"That is correct," Stan Love replied from Houston.
"OK, we're going to be doing a five-second comm reconfig and we're going to be giving Steve a 'go.'"
While Bowen was waiting on the arm, spacewalker Alvin Drew finished installing an ammonia vent tool near the insulated enclosure that will house the pump on an external stowage platform. The tool will be used during a second spacewalk Wednesday to release any residual ammonia trapped in the pump module.
12:00 p.m. EST Update: Backup power cable installed
Astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew have successfully connected a backup power cable to the space station's Tranquility module, the first major objective of today's spacewalk.
"And Houston, I am notifying you that the J612 task is complete," spacewalk coordinator Nicole Stott radioed from orbit.
"Great job, Nicole," Timothy Kopra replied from mission control. "Good work."
Kopra was the Discovery crew's original lead spacewalker, but he was injured in a bicycle accident in Houston in January and was replaced by Bowen. Kopra is in space station mission control to provide advice and assistance as needed.
"I'm really looking forward to working with you guys ... and helping out where I can," he radioed earlier.
"It's great to hear your voice," Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt said from the station. "It's a big comfort knowing you're down there and watching over us."
"It's my pleasure."
"Thanks Tim," Bowen called from the space station's Quest airlock.
"Hey, good to hear your voice, Steve," Kopra replied.
"It should be the other way around, though," Bowen said.
"You're a good man for the job."
The J612 cable will provide power to Tranquility if the module ever has to be disconnected from the central Unity module to repair or replace a critical heat exchanger. The Discovery astronauts plan to attach a new module to the station Tuesday that will block access to the power line socket. With the cable in place, the new module can be attached and Tranquility will have backup power if it's ever needed.
The spacewalkers now are moving on to their second major task, moving an out-of-commission 800-pound ammonia coolant pump from a temporary mounting point where it was left last August after a three-spacewalk repair job to an insulated enclosure on a storage platform. The pump will remain there until it's returned to Earth aboard the shuttle Atlantis this summer.
10:56 a.m. EST Update: Spacewalk begins
Running 32 minutes ahead of schedule, astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew, floating in the International Space Station's Quest airlock module, switched their spacesuits to battery power at 10:46 a.m. EST (GMT-5) to officially kick off a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk.
The primary goals of the excursion are to install a backup power cable between two station modules and to move a failed ammonia coolant pump from a temporary mounting point to an insulated enclosure on an equipment stowage platform. A variety of other maintenance tasks also are planned (see the 8:10 a.m. preview story for details).
Based on the early start time for today's EVA, here's a revised timeline of the crew's activities (in EST and spacewalk elapsed time; Bowen is EV-1 and Drew is EV-2):
CBS News
05:30 p.m. EST Update: Astronauts complete spacewalk; capture vacuum of space for educational project
 |
| Astronaut Alvin Drew (back to camera) opens a small container to capture the vacuum of space while fellow spacewalker Stephen Bowen snaps pictures as part of a Japanese educational initiative. (Photos: NASA TV) |
After their crewmates played a recording of "Message in a Bottle" by the Police, Bowen grabbed a camera and with the Japanese Kibo laboratory module behind him, Drew opened the bottle to space while Bowen snapped pictures.
The astronauts then returned to the Quest airlock, closed the hatch, hooked their suits to ship power and repressurized the compartment to officially end a six-hour 34-minute spacewalk.
The spacewalk began at 10:46 a.m. EST (GMT-5) and ended at 5:20 p.m. This was the 154th spacewalk devoted to space station assembly and maintenance since construction began in 1998, pushing total EVA time to 967 hours and 39 minutes. It was the first spacewalk for Drew and the sixth for Bowen, pushing his total to 41 hours and four minutes and moving him from 29th to 19th on the list of most experienced spacewalkers.
The astronauts successfully installed a backup power cable for the Tranquility module, stowed a failed ammonia coolant system pump and carried out a variety of maintenance tasks ranging from insulation repairs to installation of a wedge to provide needed clearance between an external television camera and a storage platform.
"You guys did an excellent job today, you rocked," spacewalk coordinator Nicole Stott radioed from inside the shuttle-station complex.
Timothy Kopra, who was replaced by Bowen after he was injured in a bicycle accident in Houston last month, passed along his congratulations as well.
"To the whole team, great work completing a textbook EVA," he said. "And Al, congratulations for a stellar job on your first spacewalk. Good job, dude."
"Thanks, Tim, couldn't have one it without you," replied Drew, the 200th person to walk in space.
02:50 p.m. EST Update: Astronauts stow failed pump module
 |
| Astronaut Steven Bowen, anchored to the end of the space station's robot arm, maneuvers a failed ammonia coolant pump into a storage enclosure, assisted by Alvin Drew. (Photos: NASA TV) |
Bowen, anchored to the end of the space station's robot arm, carried the boxy pump module from the forward side of the station's solar power truss to a cargo storage pallet on the Quest airlock. Assisted by Drew, Bowen slid the pump into its enclosure and the astronauts locked it in place.
A vent line was attached that will be used during a spacewalk Wednesday to release any residual ammonia trapped inside the pump.
The pump move went smoothly after an unexpected robot arm work station shut down that forced station commander Scott Kelly and Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt to switch to a spare workstation inside the Destiny laboratory module. The original work station, mounted in the multi-window cupola, later was re-activated.
With the pump module in place, the spacewalkers have accomplished the two primary objectives of the spacewalk. The astronauts now will turn their attention to a variety of maintenance tasks, including installation of a tool stanchion, insulation repair work on the upper Z1 truss segment and installation of a wedge to tilt an external camera away from a newly installed cargo pallet. If time is available, rail extensions will be added to the starboard end of a track used by the robot arm's mobile transporter.
01:10 p.m. EST Update: Robot arm controls shut down; operators move to backup work station in station lab module
 |
| Astronaut Steven Bowen, anchored to the end of the space station's robot arm, moves into position to pick up a failed ammonia coolant pump. (Photos: NASA TV) |
Facing a half-hour reboot procedure, station commander Scott Kelly and Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt opted to move into the Destiny laboratory module where a second robot arm work station was available. The equipment and displays are identical, but operators in Destiny have to rely on television views instead of direct line of sight.
Bowen, holding onto the failed pump module, simply waited on the end of the arm while his station colleagues got the backup work station running. A few minutes past 1 p.m., arm operations resumed.
"I've got a hot-shot station crew that moved this robotic work station in a second," Barratt radioed. "So this verifies the snares are open, that Steve has the pump module, correct?
"That is correct," Stan Love replied from Houston.
"OK, we're going to be doing a five-second comm reconfig and we're going to be giving Steve a 'go.'"
While Bowen was waiting on the arm, spacewalker Alvin Drew finished installing an ammonia vent tool near the insulated enclosure that will house the pump on an external stowage platform. The tool will be used during a second spacewalk Wednesday to release any residual ammonia trapped in the pump module.
12:00 p.m. EST Update: Backup power cable installed
Astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew have successfully connected a backup power cable to the space station's Tranquility module, the first major objective of today's spacewalk.
 |
| Astronaut Steven Bowen, left, and Alvin Drew exit the International Space Station's Quest airlock module to begin a 6.5-hour spacewalk. (Credit: NASA TV) |
"Great job, Nicole," Timothy Kopra replied from mission control. "Good work."
Kopra was the Discovery crew's original lead spacewalker, but he was injured in a bicycle accident in Houston in January and was replaced by Bowen. Kopra is in space station mission control to provide advice and assistance as needed.
"I'm really looking forward to working with you guys ... and helping out where I can," he radioed earlier.
"It's great to hear your voice," Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt said from the station. "It's a big comfort knowing you're down there and watching over us."
"It's my pleasure."
"Thanks Tim," Bowen called from the space station's Quest airlock.
"Hey, good to hear your voice, Steve," Kopra replied.
"It should be the other way around, though," Bowen said.
"You're a good man for the job."
The J612 cable will provide power to Tranquility if the module ever has to be disconnected from the central Unity module to repair or replace a critical heat exchanger. The Discovery astronauts plan to attach a new module to the station Tuesday that will block access to the power line socket. With the cable in place, the new module can be attached and Tranquility will have backup power if it's ever needed.
The spacewalkers now are moving on to their second major task, moving an out-of-commission 800-pound ammonia coolant pump from a temporary mounting point where it was left last August after a three-spacewalk repair job to an insulated enclosure on a storage platform. The pump will remain there until it's returned to Earth aboard the shuttle Atlantis this summer.
10:56 a.m. EST Update: Spacewalk begins
Running 32 minutes ahead of schedule, astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew, floating in the International Space Station's Quest airlock module, switched their spacesuits to battery power at 10:46 a.m. EST (GMT-5) to officially kick off a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk.
The primary goals of the excursion are to install a backup power cable between two station modules and to move a failed ammonia coolant pump from a temporary mounting point to an insulated enclosure on an equipment stowage platform. A variety of other maintenance tasks also are planned (see the 8:10 a.m. preview story for details).
Based on the early start time for today's EVA, here's a revised timeline of the crew's activities (in EST and spacewalk elapsed time; Bowen is EV-1 and Drew is EV-2):
DATE/EST...DD...HH...MM...SS...EVENT
2/28
10:46:00 AM...00...00...00...00...EVA-1: Suits to battery power
10:51:00 AM...00...00...05...00...Egress
11:16:00 AM...00...00...30...00...J612 power cable install
11:46:00 AM...00...01...00...00...EV1: Station arm (SSRMS) setup
11:46:00 AM...00...01...00...00...EV2: Vent tool bags; foot restraint to ESP-2
12:16:00 PM...00...01...30...00...EV1: Retrieve pump module
12:16:00 PM...00...01...30...00...EV2: Vent tool setup
12:41:00 PM...00...01...55...00...EV2: Failed pump module stow
12:46:00 PM...00...02...00...00...EV1: Failed pump module install on ESP-2
02:01:00 PM...00...03...15...00...EV2: Foot restraint to Z1 truss
02:11:00 PM...00...03...25...00...EV2: Insulation repair on Z1 truss
02:16:00 PM...00...03...30...00...EV1: SSRMS cleanup
02:21:00 PM...00...03...35...00...EV2: Tool stanchion relocate
02:46:00 PM...00...04...00...00...CP3 camera wedge installation
03:46:00 PM...00...05...00...00...Get aheads: CETA rail stub;
..................................MT stop; stow tether stop
04:31:00 PM...00...05...45...00..."Message in a Bottle" educational project
04:46:00 PM...00...06...00...00...Cleanup and ingress
05:16:00 PM...00...06...30...00...EVA-1: Airlock repressurization