SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

Spacewalkers Complete S3/S4 Work, Press Ahead With Other Tasks

STS-117 spacewalk Image above: Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson check the Drive Lock Assembly 2 on the S3/S4 truss segment of the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson completed their spacewalking tasks to activate the International Space Station’s new truss segment. They are now focusing on other work related to the assembly of the station.

Forrester and Swanson began the excursion at 1625 UTC and quickly went to work preparing the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment for operation. The S3/S4 was installed onto the station on June 11. Most of the S3/S4 work centered on activating the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ), which will allow the S3/S4 arrays to track the Sun.

Early in the spacewalk, Forrester verified the installation of the Drive Lock Assembly 2, one of two mechanisms that will drive rotation of the SARJ, and Swanson installed a TV camera. Then, the duo removed the final launch restraints on the SARJ before removing a keel pin and drag link to clear the path for the station’s mobile transporter.

The remaining tasks for the spacewalkers include the installation a computer network cable onto the Unity module and the removal of a Global Positioning System antenna. The duo is also slated to complete the installation of a piece of debris shielding on the Destiny laboratory.

Mission Specialist Jim Reilly is coordinating the spacewalk, and Pilot Lee Archambault is operating the robot arm. Expedition 15 Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov is working with Reilly as he trains for upcoming spacewalks by the station crew in which he will serve as coordinator.

The spacewalk is slated to conclude about 2230 UTC.

Forrester and Swanson conducted STS-117’s second spacewalk. Reilly and Mission Specialist Danny Olivas conducted the other two. Today’s excursion is the 88th spacewalk devoted to station assembly and maintenance.