SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Spacewalkers Prepare Truss for Relocation 28 October 2007 * Image Above: STS-120 spacewalkers exit the Quest airlock to begin the second spacewalk of the mission. Image credit: NASA TV: TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

STS-120’s second spacewalk is now in the books. Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski and Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani successfully prepared the P6 truss for its relocation during the excursion, which ended at 12:05 p.m. EDT.

Parazynski and Tani began the spacewalk heading to the section where the P6 truss was attached to the Z1 truss. Once there they disconnected the umbilicals and bolts holding the two trusses together. Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson and Doug Wheelock used the station robotic arm to remove the P6. They will place the solar array section in a temporary holding position for tonight before handing it off to the shuttle's robotic arm Monday morning.

Tani performed a couple of inspections requested by mission managers. He inspected handrails on a Crew and Equipment Translation Aid cart, but he did not note any apparent sharp edges on them. While inspecting a rotary joint used to rotate solar arrays he noticed metal shavings and unusual wear on a race ring. The joint has been showing some increased friction lately, and engineers are analyzing potential causes.

The excursion lasted 6 hours and 33 minutes. Mission Specialist Paolo Nespoli was the spacewalk coordinator, assisting the spacewalkers with their tasks.

The next spacewalk is scheduled to take place Tuesday. Parazynski and Wheelock will team up to assist with robotic arm attachment of the P6 truss in its new location on P5.

*Mission Information* + STS-120 Mission Overview http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html + Harmony Node 2 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/harmony_payload.html + Space Shuttle Discovery http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html