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

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x