...And The Bolt Ran Away With The Spatula?

There's no time to rest onboard the International Space Station this week... as by the time many of you read this, astronauts will already be on the second spacewalk in as many days.

NASA reports the STS-115 crew successfully attached the P3/P4 truss segment to the International Space Station Tuesday, and conducted a spacewalk to begin efforts to prepare it for operation. These activities marked the official resumption of the on-orbit construction of the space station.

The new truss element, which includes a set of new solar arrays, was attached to the station at 5:06 am EDT Tuesday, with Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper beginning their first excursion into space 11 minutes later.

"OK. I’m out of the hatch," Stefanyshyn-Piper said as she exited the hatch. "Oh wow, Earth’s pretty."

The two astronauts installed power and data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar array deployment. They also released launch restraints on the Solar Array Blanket Box and performed other tasks to configure the structure for upcoming activities.

In fact, Tanner and Stefanyshyn-Piper moved through the spacewalk so quickly flight controllers in the Mission Control Center in Houston gave them permission to complete tasks scheduled for future spacewalks. One of these tasks involved removing the launch locks from the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ).

Alas, the team encountered a bit of a snag while doing so. In order to access the launch locks for removal, spacewalkers must also remove existing covers. As Tanner removed cover 21, a bolt and washer came off and floated into space.

"Not a good thing," he said. "Let’s hope it doesn’t end up somewhere in the mechanism."

Fortunately, the odds of that occurring are slim... and it's not as though the loss of parts and tools during spacewalks is unprecedented. Two months ago, astronauts onboard Discovery lost a 14-inch spatula used to test a heat-shield repair material. NASA is now checking to make sure the lost bolt won't cause further problems.

ISS Flight Director John McCullough and Lead Spacewalk Director John Haensly pointedly stated additional precaution will be taken during Wednesday's spacewalk, as Mission Specialists Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean continue to remove the SARJ launch locks.

The new 17.5-ton, 45-foot truss will provide power, data and communication services for the station. The arrays will be unfurled to a full length of 240 feet Thursday and will eventually double the station’s power capabilities.

Mission Specialist Dan Burbank coordinated the spacewalk activities. Mission Specialist Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams operated the station’s robotic arm, which was used to install the P3/P4. It was the first of three scheduled spacewalks.

Unlike previous missions, the STS-115 crew will not have a day between spacewalks. They quickly began preparations for the mission’s second excursion, which will be conducted by Burbank and MacLean at 5:15 am Wednesday.

FMI: www.nasa.gov