• 55°
franklin county times

Astronauts gear up for second walk

By Staff
FLOATING n Space shuttle Atlantis commander Kenneth Cockrell, top left, works above astronauts Marsha Ivins, bottom left, Thomas Jones, center, and pilot Mark Polansky Sunday in the Destiny science laboratory module of the international space station. AP photo/NASA TV.
Feb. 12, 2001
SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) A day after opening the doors to Destiny, astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis had two main tasks: move a docking port and continue outfitting the new lab during a spacewalk.
On Monday, astronaut Marsha Ivins was set to use the shuttle's robotic arm to place a docking port at the end of Destiny, the international space station's new science laboratory.
The port, which will serve as the primary shuttle docking location for the next several missions, had been moved to a temporary location during the mission's first spacewalk Saturday so the lab could be attached to station Alpha.
Spacewalkers Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam Jr. were expected to help Ivins with her task and also attach various equipment and fixtures to the exterior of the $1.4 billion lab, including the future connection point for the space station's robotic arm due to be brought up in April.
If the docking port can't be attached to Destiny, it would halt future space station construction. Another mission would have to be scheduled or the next one in early March would have to be revamped in order to get the docking port connected, flight director Bob Castle said.
A shuttle could dock in the same port Atlantis is using but the lab would be right above the payload bay.
The complex mission has so far proceeded without any major problems.
I am very pleasantly surprised that it has gone as well as it has,'' Castle said.
Monday's spacewalk was the second of three scheduled for the mission to mount and outfit Destiny which is 28 feet long and 14 feet in diameter.
On Sunday, the crews of Atlantis and Alpha installed fire extinguishers and emergency masks and lights in the laboratory. They also hooked up the air-circulation system, cameras and computers. There was no research equipment to set up; the first experiment doesn't arrive until next month.
Destiny's computers and systems will allow NASA to take control of the space station in a month or two. Up until now, the two Russian pieces of Alpha provided the life support and commanding capability.
The lab also gives station commander Bill Shepherd and his two Russian crewmates more room to work in and live. They have been aboard Alpha since Nov. 2.
The addition of Destiny makes Alpha the largest orbiting outpost ever in terms of habitable volume.

Franklin County

John Blackwell: Ballfield complex commemorates former teacher, mayor

Franklin County

Documentary participation fails for lack of consensus

News

Miss RHS Pageant names winners in numerous categories

Franklin County

County hears broadband feasibility study

Franklin County

Red Bay considers amending animal ordinance

Features

A vision for Russellville: Downtown Collective forms, Aspiring to next level for city

Galleries

41st Annual Miss RHS Pageant takes stage March 3

Franklin County

Franklin County students compete in annual cook-off

News

Chucky Mullins committee plans golf, youth sports, remembrance events

Franklin County

Ralph Bishop: Rec center name emphasizes former mayor’s commitment to community

Franklin County

Lack of buy-in quells documentary participation

News

Gusts shatter library window

Franklin County

Forestry commission gives out free trees March 2-3

News

RB council works toward new garbage collection system

Franklin County

Tharptown senior signs with Army

Franklin County

BTCPA to host auditions for final show of season

News

REB renews line of credit, reports on blackout

News

T-mobile holds Russellville ribbon cutting

News

RPL holds rock painting, storytime event

Franklin County

PHOTOS: FCS holds career expo

News

REB, TVA donate to local groups

Franklin County

Spring enrollment at NW-SCC sees 32 percent growth

Franklin County

4-H opens registration for rabbit, chick projects

News

Russellville council authorizes solid waste franchise, purchase of dumpsters

x