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Space Station Gets New Pump for Christmas

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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have received a gift just in time for Christmas: a new pump module to repair their ailing cooling system and to restore the outpost to full power.

NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins embarked on their second spacewalk together, setting out at 6:53 a.m. EST (1153 GMT) on Tuesday (Dec. 24) to complete the work they began Saturday to remove and replace an ammonia pump module with a faulty flow control valve.

"Houston from the airlock, we'd just like to say thanks to all the great folks doing all this hard work to get this space station back up and running," Mastracchio radioed at the end of the spacewalk, which concluded at 2:23 p.m. EST (1923 GMT), seven hours and 30 minutes after it began. [See photos from the Christmas Eve spacewalk]

"No, thank you guys," astronaut capcom Doug Wheelock replied from NASA's Mission Control in Houston. "It is the best Christmas ever. Thanks, guys."

"I'd just like to add to that," Hopkins said. "Fantastic work, merry Christmas to everybody. It took a couple of licks to get her done, but we got it."

The Christmas Eve EVA extravehicular activity, NASAs term for a spacewalk had the two astronauts retrieve a spare of the refrigerator-size cooling system device and install it on the space stations starboard, or right, side backbone truss. The 780-pound (355 kg) pump module replaced a faulty unit Mastracchio and Hopkins successfully and speedily removed three days ago.

The removal, which came just 10 days after a valve inside the module ceased working properly, was originally slated to be part of this second outing, but Mastracchio and Hopkins made quick work of disconnecting the degraded unit, allowing them the time to also remove and stow the module during the spacewalk Saturday.

Their get-ahead work negated the need for a planned third spacewalk.

Pump module in place

The failure of the flow control valve, which regulates the temperature of the ammonia coolant passing through the pump, resulted in restricting the space station to the use of just half of its cooling loop system needed to maintain equipment temperatures inside and outside of the outpost. Non-critical systems and science experiment hardware in two of the stations laboratories have been without power since the valve malfunctioned on Dec. 11.

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Space Station Gets New Pump for Christmas

Space station astronauts complete repairs to cooling system on Christmas Eve spacewalk

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CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA.Space station astronauts repaired a crippled cooling system during a rare Christmas Eve spacewalk Tuesday, braving a mini blizzard of noxious ammonia as they popped in a new pump.

It was the second spacewalk in four days for U.S. astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, and only the second Christmas Eve spacewalk ever.

NASA ordered up the spacewalks to revive a critical cooling loop at the International Space Station. All nonessential equipment had to be turned off when the line conked out Dec. 11, and many science experiments halted.

With Tuesdays success, the cooling system should be restored and all equipment back up and running by this weekend, according to NASA.

Its the best Christmas ever, Mission Control radioed as the 7 -hour spacewalk came to a close.

Merry Christmas to everybody, replied Hopkins. It took a couple weeks to get her done, but we got it.

Mastracchio and Hopkins removed the faulty ammonia pump during Saturdays spacewalk. On Tuesday, they installed the fresh pump.

Standing on the end of the stations main robotic arm, Hopkins clutched the 780-pound (353.8-kilogram), refrigerator-size pump with both hands as he headed toward its installation spot, and then slid it in. An astronaut working inside, Japans Koichi Wakata, gingerly steered the arm and its precious load.

Mike Hopkins taking a special sleigh ride on this Christmas Eve, Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said as the space station soared over the Pacific.

It was slow going because of a balky ammonia fluid line that sent frozen flakes of the extremely toxic substance straight at the men a mini blizzard, as Mission Control called it. The spacewalkers reported being surrounded by big chunks of the stuff that bounced off equipment and, in all probability, their suits.

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Space station astronauts complete repairs to cooling system on Christmas Eve spacewalk

Spacewalkers finish crucial space station repairs in time for Christmas

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Cosmic Log

Alan Boyle, Science Editor NBC News

11 hours ago

Nearly two weeks after a faulty coolant valve crippled the International Space Station, two NASA astronauts took on a rare Christmas Eve spacewalk to get things back to normal.

During Tuesday's seven-hour, 30-minute repair operation, spacewalkers Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins installed a refrigerator-sized coolant pump module with an assist from Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who operated the 58-foot-long (18-meter-long) robotic arm from inside the space station.

NASA commentator Rob Navias said the new module passed an initial pressure test. "We have a pump that is alive and well," he reported on NASA TV.

The only other time NASA conducted a spacewalk on Christmas Eve was during a Hubble repair operation in 1999. The timing lent a holiday spirit to Tuesday's proceedings. "It's like Christmas morning, opening up a little present here," Mastracchio joked as he checked his tools.

PhotoBlog: Santa never had a view like this!

Two and a half hours into the job, Hopkins stood at the end of the robotic arm and steadied the 780-pound (355-kilogram) pump module as it was swung into position for installation. "Mike Hopkins taking a special sleigh ride on this Christmas Eve," Navias observed.

The spacewalk didn't always go as smoothly as Santa's rounds, however: After the astronauts slid the boxy apparatus into place and secured it with bolts, they had some trouble switching the cooling system's fluid lines. They had to tap and pry at one of the interim fluid-line connections to free it up, and in the process they set off a mini-blizzard of toxic ammonia "snowflakes."

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Spacewalkers finish crucial space station repairs in time for Christmas

Recent live broadcasting from Space Station (Merry Christmas). Incredible starship planning on link. – Video

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Recent live broadcasting from Space Station (Merry Christmas). Incredible starship planning on link.
Apocalypse The End of the World - Sheikh Safdar Razi: (Knowing Your Imam Part 38) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UcWSceCksU list=SPD2F0DFA18BFBD747 index=39.

By: Ivn Ardila

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Recent live broadcasting from Space Station (Merry Christmas). Incredible starship planning on link. - Video

World’s First Robot Astronaut ”Kirobo” Makes Space Station Small Talk – Video

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World #39;s First Robot Astronaut #39; #39;Kirobo #39; #39; Makes Space Station Small Talk
World #39;s First Robot Astronaut #39; #39;Kirobo #39; #39; Makes Space Station Small Talk World #39;s First Robot Astronaut #39; #39;Kirobo #39; #39; Makes Space Station Small Talk World #39;s First...

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World's First Robot Astronaut ''Kirobo'' Makes Space Station Small Talk - Video

Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station – Video

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Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station
Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment ...

By: Marko Nikovalov

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Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station - Video

Spacewalking Astronauts Remove Faulty Space Station Pump

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Two astronauts working speedily outside the International Space Station removed a faulty pump module ahead of schedule, potentially negating the need for a planned Christmas Day spacewalk as they work to repair the outposts critical cooling system.

NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins ventured outside the space station at 7:01 a.m. EST (1101 GMT) today (Dec. 21), just 10 days after a flow control valve malfunctioned inside the pump module that they were set to remove and replace during another 6.5-hour spacewalk on Monday. Saturdays spacewalk ended at 12:29 p.m. EST (1729 GMT), five hours and 28 minutes after it began.

Originally, the astronauts were just going to prepare the faulty pump for removal today, but the spacewalkers completed the majority of the planned tasks for Saturdays spacewalk in just three hours. The astronauts were then given a go by Mission Control in Houston to press ahead with removing the faulty refrigerator-size pump module and stow it on a nearby platform. [See photos from the speedy spacewalk]

Were about an hour and a half ahead of the timeline, so, choosing your own adventure, were going to go ahead and look forward to doing the pump module exit, Mission Control advised the astronauts.

Ahead of the spacewalk schedule

The early removal could mean that a third spacewalk planned for Dec. 25, Christmas Day, may not be needed.

The faulty valve, which regulates the temperature of ammonia flowing through the pump, ceased working properly on Dec. 11. Non-critical systems and science experiments in two of the stations laboratories have been powered down since.

Saturdays spacewalk was originally focused on only disconnecting the fluid lines from the failed pump module and installing a jumper box to keep the ammonia from over pressurizing during the pumps replacement.

Working along the starboard, or right, side of the stations backbone truss, Mastracchio (riding on the end of the Canadarm2 robotic arm) and Hopkins first set about demating quick disconnect fluid lines from the faulty pump.

As their name implies, the quick disconnects were designed to be plugged in and out, but past spacewalks, including an August 2010 outing to replace the same pump module, ran into problems getting the pressurized lines loose. Learning from previous experiences, the pressure in the lines was reduced in preparation for Saturdays spacewalk.

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Spacewalking Astronauts Remove Faulty Space Station Pump

Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs (+video)

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Two astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

Astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, sailing through the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line.

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The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, successfully pulled out the ammonia pump with a bad valve - well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

"An early Christmas," observed Mission Control as Mastracchio tugged the refrigerator-size pump away from its nesting spot.

If Mastracchio and Hopkins keep up the quick work, two spacewalks may be enough to complete the installation of a spare pump and a third spacewalk will not be needed on Christmas Day as originally anticipated.

The breakdown 10 days earlier left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

NASA's Mission Control wanted to keep the spacewalkers out even longer Saturday to get even further ahead, but a cold and uncomfortable Mastracchio requested to go back. The spacewalk ended after 5 hours, an hour short on time but satisfyingly long on content.

Earlier, Mastracchio managed to unhook all the ammonia fluid and electrical lines on the pump with relative ease, occasionally releasing a flurry of frozen ammonia flakes that brushed against his suit. A small O-ring floated away, but he managed to retrieve it.

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Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs (+video)

Space suit issues lead to delay of second spacewalk

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, sailing through the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line.

The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, successfully pulled out the ammonia pump with a bad valve ---- well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk, originally scheduled for Monday but now delayed until Tuesday, Christmas Eve, because of the need for a suit swap.

"An early Christmas," observed Mission Control as Mastracchio tugged the refrigerator-size pump away from its nesting spot.

If Mastracchio and Hopkins keep up the quick work, two spacewalks may be enough to complete the installation of a spare pump and a third spacewalk will not be needed as originally anticipated.

Several hours after Saturday's spacewalk ended, Mission Control bumped spacewalk 2 to Tuesday to give Mastracchio enough time to prepare a spare suit. His original suit was compromised when he inadvertently turned on a water switch in the air lock at the end of Saturday's excursion. NASA officials said Saturday night that it's unclear whether a third spacewalk will be needed and when it might occur, if required. A third spacewalk had been slated for Christmas Day before the latest turn of events. NASA requires a day off between spacewalks for astronaut rest.

The space station breakdown 10 days earlier left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

Mission Control wanted to keep the spacewalkers out even longer Saturday to get even further ahead, but a cold and uncomfortable Mastracchio requested to go back. The spacewalk ended after 5 1/2 hours, an hour short on time but satisfyingly long on content.

Earlier, Mastracchio managed to unhook all the ammonia fluid and electrical lines on the pump with relative ease, occasionally releasing a flurry of frozen ammonia flakes that brushed against his suit. A small O-ring floated away, but he managed to retrieve it.

"I got it, I got it, I got it. Barely," Mastracchio said as he stretched out his hand.

"Don't let that go, that's a stocking stuffer," Mission Control replied.

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Space suit issues lead to delay of second spacewalk

Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs

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Two astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

Astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, sailing through the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line.

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition

The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, successfully pulled out the ammonia pump with a bad valve - well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

"An early Christmas," observed Mission Control as Mastracchio tugged the refrigerator-size pump away from its nesting spot.

If Mastracchio and Hopkins keep up the quick work, two spacewalks may be enough to complete the installation of a spare pump and a third spacewalk will not be needed on Christmas Day as originally anticipated.

The breakdown 10 days earlier left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

NASA's Mission Control wanted to keep the spacewalkers out even longer Saturday to get even further ahead, but a cold and uncomfortable Mastracchio requested to go back. The spacewalk ended after 5 hours, an hour short on time but satisfyingly long on content.

Earlier, Mastracchio managed to unhook all the ammonia fluid and electrical lines on the pump with relative ease, occasionally releasing a flurry of frozen ammonia flakes that brushed against his suit. A small O-ring floated away, but he managed to retrieve it.

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Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs


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