SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468
*Spacewalkers Wrap Up Third Spacewalk*
Astronauts Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper completed STS-115’s triple play by successfully conducting the mission’s third spacewalk at the International Space Station. During the 6-hour, 42-minute excursion, Tanner and Piper continued efforts to prepare the station’s newly installed P3/P4 truss segment for operation and also completed other tasks devoted to the assembly and maintenance of the station. The spacewalk came to a close at 12:42 p.m. EDT.
Shortly after beginning the spacewalk at 6 a.m. EDT, Tanner and Piper retrieved a materials exposure experiment from the station’s exterior and performed maintenance on the P6 truss. The space-walkers then moved to the P3/P4 truss, where they prepared a radiator for deployment. Flight controllers unfurled the radiator, a device that will remove heat from the station, at 9:11.
Tanner and Piper also installed a wireless TV antenna on the station and replaced a faulty antenna assembly on the S1 truss. Near the end of the spacewalk, Tanner and Piper conducted a test to evaluate infrared video of Space Shuttle Atlantis’ wing leading edge. They also performed get-ahead tasks that were slated to take place on future spacewalks.
Mission Specialist Dan Burbank coordinated spacewalk activities, and Mission Specialist Steve MacLean oversaw station robotic arm operations. During this mission, MacLean became the first Canadian astronaut to operate the arm built by his home country.
Later today, the station’s mobile transporter will be moved to a worksite on the P3 as part of checkout. The transporter is used move the station’s Integrated Truss Structure.
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