Crew Readies for Spacewalk; ISS Cameras Capture Frances Video

Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike
Fincke closed out August with spacewalk preparations. They will conduct the
fourth and final spacewalk of their mission Friday, beginning at 11:50 a.m.
CDT (1650 GMT). NASA TV's spacewalk coverage starts at 10:30 a.m. CDT (1530
GMT).

Tuesday's preparations included work with the Russian Orlan spacesuits that
they will use during the extravehicular activity (EVA). They installed
replaceable components and conducted leak checks and valve functionality
checks in the suits. Padalka and Fincke also charged batteries for the suits
and helmet lights.

The spacewalk's objectives include installing three antennas on the exterior
of the Zvezda Service Module that will aid the automated docking of a new
Station supply craft, the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, set to arrive
next year. Other tasks include replacement of a pump panel on the Zarya
module that is part of the Russian segment's cooling system; installation of
guides for spacesuit tethers on Zarya handrails; and the installation of
handrail covers near the Pirs Docking Compartment hatch.

At 7:48 a.m. CDT (1248 GMT) Tuesday, cameras mounted on the outside of the
Station captured more video footage of Hurricane Frances swirling in the
Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Frances, which
was packing 140 mph winds (225 kilometers per hour) at 1 p.m. CDT (1800 GMT)
Tuesday, could impact the East Coast of the United States this weekend.


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info