BY JUSTIN RAY
Follow the flight of space shuttle Discovery's construction mission to the International Space Station.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2006
2325 GMT (6:25 p.m. EST)
The space shuttle Discovery undocked from the international space station today after a successful four-spacewalk visit to re-wire the outpost and prepare it for arrival of European and Japanese research modules over the next two years.
Sailing through space at five miles per second 220 miles above the Indian Ocean, hooks and latches locking the shuttle's docking system to the station disengaged at 5:10 p.m. and Discovery eased away from the lab complex.
Read our full story.
2323 GMT (6:23 p.m. EST)
Now one mile between the two craft.
2315 GMT (6:15 p.m. EST)
Discovery is now 2,700 feet below and moving ahead the station with an opening rate of four feet per second. The second separation engine burn is coming up in about 12 minutes.
2309 GMT (6:09 p.m. EST)
Having looped around the station, Discovery is now 1,500 feet below the complex and separating at two-feet per second.
2259 GMT (5:59 p.m. EST)
An engine firing by Discovery has been performed to propel the shuttle away from the station's vicinity.
2257 GMT (5:57 p.m. EST)
The shuttle is moving behind the station complex now. The spacecraft are nearing an orbital sunset as they head of a flight over the U.S.
2248 GMT (5:48 p.m. EST)
Discovery has reaching a point directly above the space station, some 600 feet away.
2237 GMT (5:37 p.m. EST)
Discovery has started to fly the arc to get above the station.
2236 GMT (5:36 p.m. EST)
The shuttle is now 400 feet away.
2232 GMT (5:32 p.m. EST)
Discovery is 360 feet from the station, separating at 0.2 feet per second.
2227 GMT (5:27 p.m. EST)
Distance between the two spacecraft is now 225 feet. The shuttle is headed to a point about 400 feet away where it will fire thrusters to begin an arc above the station.
2222 GMT (5:22 p.m. EST)
Now 150 feet.
2214 GMT (5:14 p.m. EST)
Discovery is now 50 feet from the station, backing away at about 0.2 feet per second.
2211 GMT (5:11 p.m. EST)
The undocking is occurring over the Indian Ocean as the spacecraft move into an orbital sunrise.
2210 GMT (5:10 p.m. EST)
UNDOCKING! Shuttle Discovery is departing the International Space Station after eight days of combined operations that saw installation of the Port 5 truss, a successful re-wiring of the outpost's electrical system and retraction of one P6 solar wing.
2204 GMT (5:04 p.m. EST)
Five minutes from undocking. The steering jets on Discovery are inhibited for the period of physical undocking from the station. The separation occurs when large springs push the two craft apart. Once the shuttle is a couple feet away from the station and the docking devices are clear of one another, pilot Bill Oefelein will fire Discovery's thrusters to continue the movement away.
2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST)
All remains "go" for undocking of Discovery from the space station 10 minutes from now.
2148 GMT (4:48 p.m. EST)
The Orbiter Docking System has been powered up.
2141 GMT (4:41 p.m. EST)
The space station and shuttle flight control teams in Houston have been polled by flight directors John Curry and Tony Ceccacci, respectively. Both teams are "go" for undocking.
2137 GMT (4:37 p.m. EST)
Expedition 14 flight engineer Suni Williams reports that space station systems are ready for undocking.
1942 GMT (2:42 p.m. EST)
Hatches between Discovery and the station are now closed.
1920 GMT (2:20 p.m. EST)
The space shuttle Discovery and the station's Expedition 14 crews, all dressed in bright red shirts, just posed for a final group photo and held a farewell ceremony inside the Destiny laboratory module. The seven shuttle astronauts then floated into Discovery for hatch closure in advance of this afternoon's undocking.
The next couple of hours will be spent performing leak and pressure checks, activating the shuttle's docking system and getting the rendezvous tools ready to use. Separation of the two spacecraft is expected at 5:09 p.m. EST.
1530 GMT (10:30 a.m. EST)
An early landing forecast predicts a possibility for clouds and rain at the Kennedy Space Center for the shuttle Discovery's planned landing Friday. Slightly high crosswinds are expected at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert but conditions at Northrup Strip near White Sands, N.M., are expected to be acceptable. Conditions in California are expected to improve on Saturday, but Florida remains questionable.
Read our full story.
1330 GMT (8:30 a.m. EST)
The Discovery astronauts, wrapping up one of the most complex space station assembly missions yet attempted, plan to undock from the outpost today after a four-spacewalk visit to re-wire the lab complex, setting the stage for the eventual attachment of European and Japanese research modules.
Read our full story.
0139 GMT (8:39 p.m. EST Mon.)
EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 8:38 p.m. EST, marking the official conclusion of this fourth and final spacewalk during Discovery's mission to the space station. Today's EVA lasted six hours and 38 minutes.
0121 GMT (8:21 p.m. EST Mon.)
Both spacewalkers are back at the airlock and doing tool inventories. They should be ingressing the airlock momentarily.
0100 GMT (8:00 p.m. EST Mon.)
Now six hours into today's spacewalk. The crew is stowing equipment and preparing to bring this EVA to a close.
0055 GMT (7:55 p.m. EST Mon.)
Perched on the end of the space station's robot arm, astronaut Robert Curbeam, assisted by Swedish flier Christer Fuglesang, finally coaxed a set of balky solar blankets to fully retract today after repeatedly clearing guide wire hangups. The successful retraction of the huge array, which finally folded up like neatly pleated window blinds, was the final objective of the shuttle Discovery's mission to re-wire the international space station.
Read our full story.
0036 GMT (7:36 p.m. EST Mon.)
Curbeam will be climbing off the robot arm as Fuglesang takes some final photographs of the blanket boxes.
0034 GMT (7:34 p.m. EST Mon.)
Both solar array blanket boxes have been closed and latched. Retraction of the solar wing is complete!
The other wing on the P6 truss is scheduled to be folded up during the March shuttle flight. Then, the entire truss will be unbolted and moved outboard for installation to the P5 truss next fall.
0020 GMT (7:20 p.m. EST Mon.)
Further efforts by Curbeam proved successful in getting the guide wire spooled up.
0012 GMT (7:12 p.m. EST Mon.)
Curbeam tried using needle nose pliers to tug on the slack guide wire in hopes of getting the retraction spool to pull it in. That didn't work. He has asked about tucking the little bit of slack inside the box so that the structure can be latched.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2006
2356 GMT (6:56 p.m. EST)
Curbeam reports bit of guide wire may be sticking out of a blanket box.
2355 GMT (6:55 p.m. EST)
"Yes!" says Curbeam and applause breaks out in Mission Control as the solar wing completes its retraction at long last.
2354 GMT (6:54 p.m. EST)
"Go" for final retract.
2345 GMT (6:45 p.m. EST)
Final inspections underway.
2327 GMT (6:27 p.m. EST)
A test of the blanket box latches is being performed before the retraction is completed.
2320 GMT (6:20 p.m. EST)
Half-bay retracted. Mission Control doing a final review before the "go" is given to finish closing up this solar wing.
2317 GMT (6:17 p.m. EST)
Now at a bay-and-a-half remaining.
2314 GMT (6:14 p.m. EST)
An additional bay retracted. Looks like two or two-and-a-half bays are left sticking out.
2312 GMT (6:12 p.m. EST)
After further work by the spacewalkers, the next one-bay retraction has been accomplished.
2254 GMT (5:54 p.m. EST)
The crew just retracted another bay. Approximately four bays remain.
2253 GMT (5:53 p.m. EST)
Another bay has been folded up. "That was by far the best retraction," Curbeam reported.
2245 GMT (5:45 p.m. EST)
About six bays or sections of the wing are left to retract. The wing is 31 bays long and 20 had been folded prior to today.
2230 GMT (5:30 p.m. EST)
Now three-and-a-half hours into the EVA. The start-and-stop retractions continue. The spacewalkers are having to clear snags that occur after virtually every slight folding action.
2206 GMT (5:06 p.m. EST)
As retraction resumed, one blanket started to bow out and the other appears to have a wire snag again.
2204 GMT (5:04 p.m. EST)
Nearly another full bay has been pulled in.
2201 GMT (5:01 p.m. EST)
Another quick retraction attempt. Three-and-a-half or four sections have been folded up today.
2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST)
Curbeam had to manually clear that snag.
2145 GMT (4:45 p.m. EST)
After another slight retraction, another snag. Fuglesang is giving it a shake.
2140 GMT (4:40 p.m. EST)
An initial progress story on the spacewalk is posted here.
2135 GMT (4:35 p.m. EST)
Another grommet hung up during that retraction motion. Shakes by Fuglesang did not clear the problem. So Curbeam is being moved in to use the scraper tool for a manual adjustment.
2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST)
Another section of the array has been retracted. Now about 9 sections remain.
2124 GMT (4:24 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is using needle nose pliers to pull the guide wire five inches to check tension on the spool. He reports all of the wires are tight now.
2115 GMT (4:15 p.m. EST)
The station is back in darkness as it flies over the North Atlantic. The next sunrise occurs in about 30 minutes. The crew and Houston continue to discuss the guide wire situation.
2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST)
An attempt by Curbeam to pull on the inboard guide wire has created a large amount of slack in cable to billow outward.
2035 GMT (3:35 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is moving back inward to use the scraper some more.
2030 GMT (3:30 p.m. EST)
Christer Fuglesang floating below the solar array is shaking the wing to keep the guide wires from hanging up on the grommets before further retraction is performed.
2025 GMT (3:25 p.m. EST)
Retraction of one solar array section, or bay, has occurred. Some 10 of the 31 bays are left to fold up.
2018 GMT (3:18 p.m. EST)
All of the grommets have been freed. The robot arm is backing Curbeam away from the array in preparation for a wing retraction attempt.
2015 GMT (3:15 p.m. EST)
A fray in the guide wire is snagging the grommets. Curbeam is using the scraper flick the grommets over the fray. An illustration of the tool is available here.
2012 GMT (3:12 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is performing his first hands-on work with the solar array. He is using a scraper tool to adjust grommets and the guide wire.
2000 GMT (3:00 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is making initial inspections with his helmet lights. Sunrise is coming up in a few minutes.
1940 GMT (2:40 p.m. EST)
The station complex just crossed into orbital night. The next day pass begins in about 35 minutes.
1934 GMT (2:34 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is perched on the station arm now. Astronauts Suni Williams and Joan Higginbotham are in control of the arm. The spacewalk will be moved up to the array for a complete visual inspection.
1925 GMT (2:25 p.m. EST)
The astronauts are making their way to the P6 truss. Curbeam will be climbing into a foot restraint platform on the end of the station's robotic arm for maneuvering up close to the array.
1916 GMT (2:16 p.m. EST)
Both spacewalkers have egressed the airlock.
1900 GMT (2:00 p.m. EST)
EVA BEGINS. Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 2:00 p.m. EST, marking the start time for today's spacewalk to assist retraction of the troublesome solar array.
This is Curbeam's seventh EVA and fourth of Discovery's mission. He is the first astronaut to ever conduct four spacewalks during a single shuttle flight. Fuglesang is making his third EVA.
1859 GMT (1:59 p.m. EST)
The outer hatch has been popped open.
1840 GMT (1:40 p.m. EST)
Depressurization of the airlock is underway.
1730 GMT (12:30 p.m. EST)
Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang, Sweden's first man in space, are preparing for a fourth spacewalk today to help coax a recalcitrant solar array to fully retract. The astronauts are running a few minutes ahead of schedule and the spacewalk, the 77th devoted to station assembly and maintenance since construction began in 1998, is expected to begin around 2 p.m.
Read our preview story.
1715 GMT (12:15 p.m. EST)
Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang have donned their spacewalking suits and are proceeding through checks. Today's EVA is scheduled to begin in about two hours.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
Here is the latest Mission Control status report:
Discovery and International Space Station crew members will conduct their fourth spacewalk of the week today, an excursion aimed at freeing a snagged, partially retracted station solar array so it will fully fold properly.
Astronaut Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang, a European Space Agency astronaut from Sweden, will venture outside the station at 2:12 p.m. EST. It will be Curbeam's fourth spacewalk of the mission, more than any astronaut has performed during a single shuttle flight, and it will be Fuglesang's third. Using a variety of specially prepared, tape-insulated tools, they will work to complete the retraction of the port solar array wing of the station's P6 truss.
Curbeam and Fuglesang spent the night in the station's Quest airlock in a procedure called a "campout." The air pressure in the compartment was reduced to 10.2 pounds per square inch to assist in purging nitrogen from their bodies, a measure that helps prevent decompression sickness.
The shuttle crew was awakened at 9:17 a.m. EST to the song "Good Vibrations" performed the Beach Boys. The song was played for the entire crew in honor of the vibrations the spacewalkers may create today to attempt to free the balky solar panels. As part of the suite of potential activities they have on hand to assist with folding the array, Curbeam and Fuglesang will shake the solar blankets by pushing on the boxes into which they fold. If needed, the spacewalk could last as long as six and half hours.
Curbeam will be on the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm during the spacewalk. He will be equipped to work on two problems believed to be experienced by the array. One is the apparent jamming of the guide wires in the grommets designed to guide them. The other is some backward, balky folding of hinges between solar panels that has been seen during attempts at retraction. As those issues are dealt with by the spacewalkers, crew members inside will send commands to further fold the array.
Fuglesang will be on the P6 truss. He will push the blanket boxes into which the arrays fold to shake the wing. He also will take pictures, including some of the P6 starboard solar wing. That wing is to be retracted on the next shuttle flight to the station. The photos taken by Fuglesang will assist in the planning of that task.
Williams and Discovery Mission Specialist Joan Higginbotham will operate the station's robotic arm during the spacewalk. Pilot Bill Oefelein will serve as the spacewalk coordinator, or intravehicular officer, inside the spacecraft.
The transfer of equipment and supplies between the shuttle and station will continue today as well. Almost all of the 4,292 pounds brought up aboard Discovery has been moved to the station, and the loading of 3,725 pounds of gear in those areas for return to Earth is nearing completion as well. Discovery's undocking from the station is now planned for 5:09 p.m. EST on Tuesday. Discovery is planned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 3:56 p.m. EST. on Friday.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2006
2020 GMT (3:20 p.m. EST)
We have updated the flight plan to reflect the addition of spacewalk No. 4 and the extra day to Discovery's mission.
1850 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)
Faced with an unforgiving space station assembly sequence, NASA managers were forced to shoehorn an additional spacewalk into Discovery's mission to complete the retraction of a recalcitrant solar array. The spacewalk came at the expense of a landing weather contingency day but it was either that or give up a post-undocking heat shield inspection, an option many shuttle engineers were reluctant to consider.
Read our full story.
0332 GMT (10:32 p.m. EST Sat.)
Astronaut Robert Curbeam, a weight lifter in his spare time, and fellow spacewalker Sunita "Suni" Williams, a former Navy diver and helicopter pilot, took turns shaking a huge solar array storage box today in a bid to loosen up sticky grommets and fully retract unruly blankets. Despite considerable initial success, the astronauts ran into a particularly stubborn grommet on Williams' side and ran out of time, setting the stage for a fourth spacewalk Monday to complete the array's retraction.
Read our full story.
0257 GMT (9:57 p.m. EST Sat.)
EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 9:56 p.m. EST, marking the official conclusion of this third spacewalk during Discovery's mission to the space station. Today's EVA lasted seven hours and 31 minutes.
0231 GMT (9:31 p.m. EST Sat.)
The sun is setting on this orbital pass, so the shaking and retracting has stopped. The array has been folded an additional 6 sections or bays than it was before tonight's actions. The crew reports 11 bays are left to retract, or 35 percent. There are 20 bays already folded up. Given that the EVA has lasted 7 hours and counting, Curbeam and Williams are heading back for the airlock now.
0200 GMT (9:00 p.m. EST Sat.)
Alternating a shake by the spacewalker and a one-section retraction is successfully getting the array folded up successfully. Mission Control says the EVA will continue working on the array through the end of this daylight orbital pass that lasts another half-hour. After that, the crew will need to head back for the airlock to conclude this extended excursion outside.
0154 GMT (8:54 p.m. EST Sat.)
Another shake has gotten the blanket lined up again. Spacewalkers are getting back out of the way for the next retract attempt.
0152 GMT (8:52 p.m. EST Sat.)
Another retraction of one array section, or bay, has caused the troublesome blanket to fold improperly and spill out of plane.
0146 GMT (8:46 p.m. EST Sat.)
Curbeam is giving the wing another shake. Asked if retraction should proceed another section, he said: "I think we should do it. If I see bad things happening, I'll call you off."
0143 GMT (8:43 p.m. EST Sat.)
The crew just retracted one section of the array. They have stopped to check the results.
0139 GMT (8:39 p.m. EST Sat.)
After moving into an orbital sunrise over the Indian Ocean, Curbeam just gave the solar wing two more shakes. He reports the previously stuck grommets and guide wires now look to be in good shape. A wing retraction attempt is coming up momentarily.
0058 GMT (7:58 p.m. EST Sat.)
Further shakes have started improving the solar array situation a little bit. Flight controllers are looking at a possible retraction attempt during the next daylight orbital pass.
0045 GMT (7:45 p.m. EST Sat.)
Spacewalker Bob Curbeam has given the wing several shakes to try and free the snagged guide wire on the array blanket. That has been unsuccessful, however.
0012 GMT (7:12 p.m. EST Sat.)
Now it's time for the spacewalkers to get up close with the port wing of the P6 solar array truss. Today's EVA has gone smoothly and there is enough time for Curbeam and Williams to climb up the truss and inspect the troublesome wing. They may tap on the array blanket box in hopes of freeing what is believed to be a stuck guide wire on the wing.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2006
2359 GMT (6:59 p.m. EST)
NASA flight controllers are revising times for critical mission events due to the addition of a spacewalk Monday to address solar array problems, assuming the spacewalkers don't fix the trouble today. Here are revised times for critical mission events between now and landing Friday (in EST and mission elasped time):
DATE/EST.........DD...HH...MM...EVENT
12/19/06
Tue...05:09 PM...09...20...22...Discovery undocks from space station
Tue...05:38 PM...09...20...51...Separation burn 1
Tue...06:06 PM...09...21...19...Separation burn 2
Tue...06:52 PM...09...22...05...Separation burn 3
12/20/06
Wed...07:06 PM...10...22...19...MEPSI microsat deploy
Wed...08:37 PM...10...23...50...RAFT microsat deploy
12/21/06
Thu...01:19 PM...11...16...32...ANDE microsat deploy
Thu...01:49 PM...11...17...02...ANDE separation
12/22/06
Fri...02:52 PM...12...18...05...Deorbit ignition
Fri...03:55 PM...12...19...08...Landing
2350 GMT (6:50 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are beginning the task of installing an Adjustable Grapple Bar on the external stowage platform outside the airlock module for future use. This device is a portable handle that can be attached to objects to assist spacewalkers in moving them around during EVAs.
2329 GMT (6:29 p.m. EST)
Suni Williams' digital camera accidently got away from the astronaut. A station camera captured a view of the camera floating out of reach.
2325 GMT (6:25 p.m. EST)
NASA's Mission Management Team today decided to add a fourth spacewalk to Discovery's mission in a bid to fully retract an unruly solar array on the international space station. The decision was announced during a spacewalk by Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams to finish re-wiring the orbital outpost.
Read our update story.
2315 GMT (6:15 p.m. EST)
Now approaching four hours into this spacewalk. The Zvezda service module debris panels have been transferred from shuttle Discovery and positioned on their temporary stowage location, which is the vacant Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 3 docking port on the Unity node. A Russian spacewalk next summer will actually install the panels on Zvezda to shield against micrometeoroid hits.
And Curbeam has moved on to perform a wiring task at the border between the U.S. and Russian segments of the station. The new cabling will feed additional power to the Russian segment from the U.S. assets.
2239 GMT (5:39 p.m. EST)
CAPCOM Steve Robinson just radioed the astronauts that a fourth spacewalk has been approved by the Mission Management Team to occur on Monday to manually retract the troublesome solar array wing. That would extend Discovery's mission by a day, with landing now next Friday.
The plan to inspect the array at the end of today's spacewalk remains in place, if time permits.
Right now, the spacewalkers are in the midst of moving the micrometeoroid protection panels from the shuttle payload bay up to the station. Suni Williams is riding on the shuttle robot arm for the move; Bob Curbeam is free-floating.
2200 GMT (5:00 p.m. EST)
Flight controllers today successfully activated a powerful pump on the space station's main solar power truss, pushing ammonia coolant through cold plates and into big radiators to keep critical electrical gear from overheating.
Read our update story.
2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST)
The next task in the EVA sends the spacewalkers down to the payload bay of shuttle Discovery. They will be retrieving micrometeoroid debris shielding panels launched on the shuttle for relocation up on the station. A future Russian EVA will install the panels on the outer hull of the station's Zvezda module.
2129 GMT (4:29 p.m. EST)
Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams finished re-wiring space station electrical power system channels 1 and 4, clearing the way for flight controllers to begin flowing solar array electricity through two main bus swithing units, transformers and other critical components. Engineers now plan to activate an ammonia cooling system to complete the station's switch-over from interim to permanent power.
Read our update story.
2119 GMT (4:19 p.m. EST)
Positive news from Mission Control -- the powerup following the re-wiring has been a success. No problems were encountered.
2111 GMT (4:11 p.m. EST)
The crew just gave flight controllers a "go" for station system powerup following completion of the external re-wiring job.
2105 GMT (4:05 p.m. EST)
The station complex is moving into an orbital sunrise 220 miles over Australia. The re-wiring has been going smoothly.
2025 GMT (3:25 p.m. EST)
Now one-hour into spacewalk.
2010 GMT (3:10 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is busy reconfigurating cabling while Williams is removing circuit interrupt devices.
1942 GMT (2:42 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers have egressed the airlock hatchway to space. This is Curbeam's sixth spacewalk and the first for Williams.
1931 GMT (2:31 p.m. EST)
Mission Control has warned the station crew that lights and communications systems will be going off now as the partial powerdown is completed for the spacewalk.
1925 GMT (2:25 p.m. EST)
EVA BEGINS. Bob Curbeam and Suni Williams switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 2:25 p.m. EST, marking the start time for today's six-hour spacewalk to complete re-wiring the station.
1857 GMT (1:57 p.m. EST)
Depressurization of the airlock has begun.
1730 GMT (12:30 p.m. EST)
The powering down of space station systems in preparation for today's electrical re-wiring job by the spacewalkers is underway. The EVA is scheduled to begin in about two hours.
1630 GMT (11:30 a.m. EST)
Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita "Suni" Williams are gearing up for a critical spacewalk today to finish re-wiring the international space station. If time is available and no major problems develop, they also plan to inspect a balky solar array and perhaps shake it a bit to free up a stuck guide wire that is preventing its full retraction.
Read our preview story.
1448 GMT (9:48 a.m. EST)
The flight day 8 musical wakeup call has just gone up to the shuttle crew from Mission Control. Today will be spent conducting the third of three planned spacewalks for Discovery's mission.
0405 GMT (11:05 p.m. EST Fri.)
NASA managers late this evening told the Discovery astronauts that if enough time is available at the end of an already-planned spacewalk Saturday, two spacewalkers will be asked to carry out an up-close inspection of a partially retracted solar array to help engineers figure out what might be needed to coax the blankets into full retraction.
Read our update story.
0207 GMT (9:07 p.m. EST Fri.)
The deploy attempt did not succeed in clearing the problem. The crew was able to get the array retracted back into essentially the same configuration it was in before this try started.
0142 GMT (8:42 p.m. EST Fri.)
MIssion Control says at about 8:57 p.m. EST, the P6 solar wing will be re-deployed one section and then a slow retraction will be attempted tonight.
2335 GMT (6:35 p.m. EST)
Flight controllers tried additional "wiggle" tests late today to shake a hung-up guide wire loose and clear the way for full retraction of a partially folded solar array. As with earlier tests, results were inconclusive but the Discovery astronauts said they would be willing to stage a repair spacewalk if mission managers conclude a quick repair is necessary and can be safely carried out.
Read our update story.
2257 GMT (5:57 p.m. EST)
Another attempt is underway to impart oscillations into the troublesome solar wing in hopes of freeing a stuck guide wire on the array. If successful, NASA could try to resume retracting the wing.
1845 GMT (1:45 p.m. EST)
Trying to succeed where robotic jostling failed, German astronaut Thomas Reiter, wrapping up a six-month stay aboard the international space station, worked out with a resistive exerice device today in a bid to impart enough vibration to shake loose a hung-up solar array.
Read our update story.
1530 GMT (10:30 a.m. EST)
Flight controllers today began a series of tests to gently shake a partially retracted solar array on the international space station in hopes of freeing an apparently hung up guide wire.
Read our update story.
1430 GMT (9:30 a.m. EST)
NASA managers, thrilled with the success of a space station re-wiring spacewalk Thursday, plan to remotely shake and jiggle a partially retracted solar array Friday in a bid to free a hung up guide wire and coax the blankets into full retraction. One proposed test includes having an astronaut work out with a resistive exercise device to impart forces known to shake, or excite, the fragile solar arrays.
Read our story.
0100 GMT (9:00 p.m. EST)
Running ahead of schedule, astronauts Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang wrapped up a successful spacewalk today, re-wiring two of the space station's four main electrical circuits so flight controllers could tie them into the lab's permanent power system.
Read our update story.
0045 GMT (7:45 p.m. EST)
The spacewalk is over. Curbeam and Fuglesang completed the successful EVA at 7:41 p.m. for a total duration of five hours.
2310 GMT (6:10 p.m. EST)
After spacewalkers re-wired two of the space station's four main electrical circuits, flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston successfully activated a critical cooling system in a major milestone for station assembly.
Read our update story.
2230 GMT (5:30 p.m. EST)
One hour and 54 minutes into a planned six-hour spacewalk, astronauts Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang completed their electrical re-wiring work to route electricity from the space station's solar arrays into two of the four main circuits making up the lab's permanent power system.
Read our update story.
1941 GMT (2:41 p.m. EST)
EVA BEGINS. Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 2:41 p.m. EST, marking the start time for today's six-hour spacewalk to start re-wiring the station.
1940 GMT (2:40 p.m. EST)
Depressurization of the airlock has been completed. The outer hatch of the airlock module is being opened.
1825 GMT (1:25 p.m. EST)
Meanwhile down on Earth, the first United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket is counting down to liftoff in a couple of hours from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Live launch reports are available here.
1805 GMT (1:05 p.m. EST)
Spacewalk preparations are underway aboard the space station today, along with powerdowns and reconfigurations in advance of the electrical re-wiring to be performed during the EVA. No particular problems have been reported today.
1530 GMT (10:30 a.m. EST)
The Discovery astronauts are gearing up for a critical spacewalk today to begin re-wiring the international space station while engineers debate whether to add an unplanned spacewalk early next week to help coax an unruly solar array into full retraction.
Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang, Sweden's first man in space, are scheduled to begin a planned six-hour spacewalk at 3:12 p.m., their second in three days. The goal of this excursion is to switch two of the station's four major electrical circuits over to the lab's permanent power system.
The other two circuits will be re-wired during a spacewalk Saturday by Curbeam and newly arrived station astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams. Both spacewalks are required to route electricity from the station's main arrays through big switching units and transformers on the solar array truss that make up the lab's permanent power system.
Read our detailed preview of today's spacewalk.
1519 GMT (10:19 a.m. EST)
The wakeup call just went to the shuttle crew to begin flight day 6, which is devoted to the second spacewalk of Discovery's mission.
0650 GMT (1:50 a.m. EST)
Our latest Mission Report Minute video podcast is available for download on iTunes.
0355 GMT (10:55 p.m. EST)
Flight controllers report that 300 pounds of ammonia has been pumped into one of the station's coolant loops.
Spaceflight Plus subscribers can learn more about the space station's power system here
0250 GMT (9:50 p.m. EST)
Spaceflight Plus subscribers can see a time-lapse movie of the P4 arrays rotating here
0220 GMT (9:20 p.m. EST)
Space station flight controllers, faced with an unruly solar panel and an increasingly tight schedule, put array troubleshooting on hold late today and pressed ahead with work to ready the lab complex for a critical re-wiring spacewalk Thursday.
Read our latest story here.
0122 GMT (8:22 p.m. EST)
"We all tried as much up here as you guys did on the ground and it just wasn't going to work for us today but that stuff happens and I'm sure we'll get through it," station commander Mike Lopez-Alegria says.
0112 GMT (8:12 p.m. EST)
CAPCOM Steve Robinson says tomorrow's spacewalk to begin the station power system re-wiring will proceed as planned. A team is being assembled to study spacewalk options to assist the P6 solar array retraction. The team recommend incorporating the wing retraction work into third EVA of Discovery's mission scheduled for Saturday, or create a new spacewalk later in the mission that would be dedicated to the array. The other possibility is deferring the array spacewalk until after Discovery undocks and having the station residents perform the excursion.
0100 GMT (8:00 p.m. EST)
Rotation of the Port 4 solar arrays, delivered to the station in September, is underway now as the flight controllers test the new rotary joint that will keep the arrays pointed at the sun as the station orbits.
The partial retraction of the P6 wing tonight has given enough clearance for the P4 rotation to begin.
0050 GMT (7:50 p.m. EST)
Mission Control indicates activities with the solar array retraction are going to be suspended for now. Upcoming tonight will be activation of the rotation joint for the P4 arrays and filling of the station's Loop B coolant system with ammonia as Discovery's STS-116 mission proceeds. Ground teams will continue to analyze how to get the wing fully retracted in the coming days.
0020 GMT (7:20 p.m. EST)
The plan just radioed to the crew will be deploying the array a half-bay or so and get wing structurally tighter than it is now. That will allow the P4 truss arrays to begin rotating to track the sun at orbital noon in this upcoming daylight pass.
0015 GMT (7:15 p.m. EST)
The station complex is flying in orbital darkness right now, so no further wing retraction efforts are happening right now. Officials continue to debate what the big picture plan will be.
0006 GMT (7:06 p.m. EST)
Another story update on the situation is available here.
2352 GMT (6:52 p.m. EST)
Daylight is running out in this orbit. More than 40 start-and-stop commands have been issued this afternoon.
A fraction under 17 bays remain to be retracted. But enough has been retracted to allow the P4 arrays to begin rotating to track the sun, which is the key.
2328 GMT (6:28 p.m. EST)
Now five hours into this effort to retract the solar wing.
2321 GMT (6:21 p.m. EST)
The wing now stands at 17.5 bays exposed. The crew is slowly retracting with frequent stops in hopes of preventing the problems experienced all day.
2304 GMT (6:04 p.m. EST)
The wing has been redeployed out to 28 bays. Retraction is once again resuming.
2300 GMT (6:00 p.m. EST)
Our latest story on the situation is available here.
2247 GMT (5:47 p.m. EST)
The plan is to extend the solar array out far enough to clear the folding problem, even if it goes beyond the 19 bay point, and then retract it one bay at a time.
Polansky is suggesting setting up cameras to watch the array side-on to get a better understand of the problem.
2228 GMT (5:28 p.m. EST)
Polanksy believes the array is currently at "19 bays, plus or minus a quarter of a bay, max."
"It's the plus that worries us," responded mission control's Steve Robinson. "We'll probably think a little bit more about extending just a bit more in trying to retract solidly within our 19, plus some margin."
The array needs to be retracted 19 bays or less for the P4 solar array to rotate.
The next daylight pass is about 28 minutes away.
2223 GMT (5:23 p.m. EST)
Mission control has advised that the goal will be to get the array retracted to less than 19 bays during the next daylight pass and then moving on with activation of the port truss solar array rotary joint. They are also considering spacewalking solutions for resolving the problem.
2223 GMT (5:23 p.m. EST)
Polansky reports the start-stop motion does not set up the "wave" needed to clear the kinks in the solar array.
2221 GMT (5:21 p.m. EST)
The shuttle-station complex is moving into orbital darkness and communications have been spotty.
2214 GMT (5:14 p.m. EST)
The astronauts are going to try sending a deploy command followed by an immediate stop in the hope of jolting the array into folding up correctly.
2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST)
The array has been driven a half bay out in an attempt to shake out the kinks preventing the panels from folding.
2210 GMT (5:10 p.m. EST)
Both sides of the array are not folding correctly at the base.
2207 GMT (5:07 p.m. EST)
The array has reached 19 bays and another retraction is going to be attempted.
2206 GMT (5:06 p.m. EST)
Extension of the array is underway.
2204 GMT (5:04 p.m. EST)
Polansky is suggesting redeploying the array to 19 bays another time in the hope of setting up a 'wave' in the array that will clear the kinks that keep preventing the panels from folding up properly.
2202 GMT (5:02 p.m. EST)
This was the 24th attempt to retract the array, according to mission commentator Kyle Herring.
2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST)
Movement has been stopped again at about 17.5 bays.
2158 GMT (4:58 p.m. EST)
Retracting once more.
2157 GMT (4:57 p.m. EST)
Retraction aborted.
2156 GMT (4:56 p.m. EST)
The array stopped at 19.5 bays and is now being retracted.
2154 GMT (4:54 p.m. EST)
The array is being extended once more...
2152 GMT (4:52 p.m. EST)
The crew is going to extend the array again and watch through binoculars to see when tension is restored to the guide wires that help the panels fold up. They have mission control's permission to extend further than 19 bays in the hope of clearing this problem. It is possible the guide wires are getting caught up in a gromit, CAPCOM Steve Robinson said.
2149 GMT (4:49 p.m. EST)
The array is again 17.5 bays out and there continues to be a lack of tension. Mission control is debating how to proceed.
2139 GMT (4:39 p.m. EST)
Crew continues the start-and-stop approach to get the wing folded up.
The Port 6 truss was delivered to the space station on shuttle Endeavour's STS-97 mission in late 2000. The two wings were unfurled to power the station through its infancy. With the station expansion now underway, additional solar array trusses are being added. Today is the first step in deactiving P6 in preparation for its relocation outboard on the station's port side next September.
2136 GMT (4:36 p.m. EST)
Wing extension underway again.
2134 GMT (4:34 p.m. EST)
Our updated story on the situation is available here.
2132 GMT (4:32 p.m. EST)
There still appears to be a lack of tension and some accordion effects in the array.
2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST)
Now retracting by one bay.
2129 GMT (4:29 p.m. EST)
The astronauts are extending the array to 19 bays.
2125 GMT (4:25 p.m. EST)
Polanksy still believes extended to no more than 19 bays will be enough to clear the lack of tension in the array.
"We think there is little risk that we won't be able to get back in less than 19 bays and we are doubtful that if we only go to 19 bays that that will solve the problem." he said.
The ground and crew have agreed to try extending to 19 bays first and then, if the problem has not been cleared they will try extending it further.
2119 GMT (4:19 p.m. EST)
Mission control's Steve Robinson has informed the Discovery/Station crew of the new plan to continue retraction of the array. They will extend it to about 19 bays out. Then, as suggested by Polansky, bring the array in one bay at a time. "What I call the 'Polanksy Mode'," he joked.
2056 GMT (3:56 p.m. EST)
Polansky believes the problem cannot be solved without re-extending the array, however flight controllers are wary of extending beyond 19 bays as the array is currently retracted far enough to allow rotation of the solar panels at the end of the station's port truss.
"We need to think if we want to go past 19 or not," mission control's Terry Virts radioed.
"Obviously it would be great if we could get the whole thing done like we had planned, but we understand that it is important to be able to rotate the SARJ [Solar Array Rotatry Joint] too," Polanksy responded.
Flight controllers are discussing their strategy while Discovery orbits in darkness. There are one or two more daylight passes today that could be used to work further on the array.
2054 GMT (3:54 p.m. EST)
Discovery commander Mark Polansky reports that the guide wires that help the arrays fold up neatly appear to be losing tension as the panels retract. "There's definitely not the tension that we're expecting," he said.
2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST)
The crew says about 17.5 bays remain out. That would be just within the 19-bay target to clear the P6 wing for activation of the Port 4 solar array rotation.
2047 GMT (3:47 p.m. EST)
Retraction resumed for another moment before aborting. Orbital sunset is nearing, so further attempts aren't likely in the immediate future.
2045 GMT (3:45 p.m. EST)
Crew retracted one bay to see what would happen with the wires. The aft blanket retracted but the forward one didn't move until after the mast retraction stopped.
2042 GMT (3:42 p.m. EST)
Abort called because the guide wires appeared slack.
2041 GMT (3:41 p.m. EST)
The wing being retracted is 110 feet long and 38 feet wide. It consists of two array blankets that are covered with solar cells. The structure is extended or retracted by a telescopic mast which is located between the two blankets.
2041 GMT (3:41 p.m. EST)
Now three straight minutes in the retraction. A bit of relief evident in Mission Control.
2040 GMT (3:40 p.m. EST)
So far so good, now two minutes into this retraction attempt.
2038 GMT (3:38 p.m. EST)
Retraction started.
2037 GMT (3:37 p.m. EST)
The solar wing has been redeployed virtually its full extension.
2036 GMT (3:36 p.m. EST)
"The first panel from the blanket box, right smack in the middle, it looks like it's folding out against the fold, sort of like we had with the original problem. We thought that it had popped out, but evidently not, so I think we're just going to have to extend this array until we get it popped all the way out, and then try it again and see if it folds correctly." -- Mark Polansky
2033 GMT (3:33 p.m. EST)
And another abort.
2032 GMT (3:32 p.m. EST)
Retraction being attempted once again.
2031 GMT (3:31 p.m. EST)
The extension has stopped. There is 27.5 bays extended.
2029 GMT (3:29 p.m. EST)
Another redeploy is underway.
2028 GMT (3:28 p.m. EST)
Abort called again because of crease problem at the bottom of the forward blanket.
2028 GMT (3:28 p.m. EST)
At the present time, 22 bays of the wing are exposed right now. Retraction is resuming.
2026 GMT (3:26 p.m. EST)
Mission Control told the crew they are "go" to continue this procedure of retracting, stopping if a problem occurs, redeploying a bit to clear the problem and then continuing to fold up the wing.
2024 GMT (3:24 p.m. EST)
The crew has stopped the redeploy.
2023 GMT (3:23 p.m. EST)
Extension has started.
2021 GMT (3:21 p.m. EST)
"We think that the cause is right at the blanket box on that forward one. It started to not come in properly and then it caused it to bulge. I kind of think it's going to be one of those things where we're going to go ahead and retract it for a while, and if there's a problem we're going to have to stop and then extend it for a while until it resolves, and then maybe retract it again. It might be just a back-and-forth thing to get it in." -- Mark Polansky
2020 GMT (3:20 p.m. EST)
The crew is talking about redeploying again. The forward blanket is bulging at the bottom and not folding up.
2014 GMT (3:14 p.m. EST)
Another halt has occurred. The other blanket appears to be all out of whack now.
2014 GMT (3:14 p.m. EST)
The crew said they stopped the retraction because they wanted to check the tension wires. All looks fine and so the retraction has resumed.
2011 GMT (3:11 p.m. EST)
Another abort has been called by the astronauts. Retraction has been stopped.
2010 GMT (3:10 p.m. EST)
If the retraction continues to go well, the plan calls for the wing to be folded up until just two bays are left exposed.
2009 GMT (3:09 p.m. EST)
The crew says the problem area is folding correctly this time.
2009 GMT (3:09 p.m. EST)
Another attempt at retraction has commenced.
2004 GMT (3:04 p.m. EST)
The partial redeployment of the wing means 27 of the 31 array sections, or bays, are extended now. With the array now looking to be in good condition, flight controllers are discussing how to proceed.
2002 GMT (3:02 p.m. EST)
The troublesome crease has finally popped in place after continuing the extension.
2001 GMT (3:01 p.m. EST)
Extension of the array is underway again.
1959 GMT (2:59 p.m. EST)
Mission Control has asked the deploy be stopped. The severity of the kink has cleared itself. However, there is still some bowing. Commander Mark Polansky says further deployment could help. They extended the wing only slightly so far.
1958 GMT (2:58 p.m. EST)
Redeployment of the solar wing has begun.
1940 GMT (2:40 p.m. EST)
The decision has been made to re-extend the solar wing until that crease pops back into the right position. It has been bowing outward instead of folding in. The crew can stop the deployment either when the crease clears itself or go all the way to 100 percent extension if necessary.
1934 GMT (2:34 p.m. EST)
The next orbital sunrise is about 20 minutes away.
1929 GMT (2:29 p.m. EST)
In a make-or-break first step in an ambitious mission to re-wire the international space station, the Discovery astronauts today began retracting a huge solar array to clear the way for a complicated electrical upgrade. But the venetian blind-like blankets on one side developed kinks and folds that forced the astronauts to abort the procedure.
Read our initial story on the situation here.
1924 GMT (2:24 p.m. EST)
"The best analogy we can give is probably what we've been using both here and on the ground is it's kind of like folding a map up. You have the folds in the paper, and if you start folding it and the fold is going the wrong way, you can try a little bit but there gets a point where it just bows out and there's nothing you can do other than to pop it back in place or unfold it and try again," Discovery commander Mark Polansky says.
1921 GMT (2:21 p.m. EST)
The station has moved into orbital darkness as it flies over Africa. The next sunrise will come when the spacecraft moves over the South Pacific.
1918 GMT (2:18 p.m. EST)
More images of the current condition of the aft blanket are available here and here.
1917 GMT (2:17 p.m. EST)
One option under discussion is to redploy the wing and then restart the retraction process in hopes this one crease that is bowing outward will instead fold properly.
1915 GMT (2:15 p.m. EST)
Spaceflight Plus subscribers can see a movie clip of the array retraction here
1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)
No further retraction will be attempted during the daylight period in this orbit. Ground teams will need some time to examine the situation.
1910 GMT (2:10 p.m. EST)
"The part on the forward array cleared itself almost immediately. On the aft array, however, there was a lot of oscillation going on. It looked a couple of times like it was going to fold correctly, but then it started kind of bowing out in a nadir direction and we just got uncomfortable," station commander Mike Lopez-Alegria says.
1908 GMT (2:08 p.m. EST)
The forward blanket that was coming inward at an angle fixed itself during the latest retraction. However, the aft blanket that has been a concern appears even more bowed out now. That prompted the crew to halt the retraction motion. There are approximately 23 bays remaining to retract.
1906 GMT (2:06 p.m. EST)
The crew has stopped the retraction based on what they are seeing.
1906 GMT (2:06 p.m. EST)
"Aborting," says astronaut Suni Williams.
1904 GMT (2:04 p.m. EST)
Retraction is underway again.
1902 GMT (2:02 p.m. EST)
The "go" has been given from Mission Control to proced with the retraction until just two bays are remaining out. Each blanket is 31 bays, or sections.
1900 GMT (2:00 p.m. EST)
An image showing the other solar blanket not folding uniformly is available here.
1855 GMT (1:55 p.m. EST)
In addition to the one crease not folding right, the crew also says the other blanket is coming inward at a bit of an angle and not uniformly folding up. Both issues are happening at the bottom of the blankets where they are being folded toward.
1851 GMT (1:51 p.m. EST)
An image of the solar blanket is available here. It shows the area of concern.
1841 GMT (1:41 p.m. EST)
And the retraction has stopped after two more bays were pulled in. The astronauts and ground teams will be analyzing how the array looks before deciding to press on.
1841 GMT (1:41 p.m. EST)
Retraction has resumed.
1838 GMT (1:38 p.m. EST)
No other issues or concerns were noticed in the wing survey.
1838 GMT (1:38 p.m. EST)
Flight controllers have asked the crew to retract two more bays to watch that one fold and see how it behaves.
1835 GMT (1:35 p.m. EST)
The array survey has shown only one fold at the bottom of one blanket that appears to be resting opposite of its crease. But the crew believes it will 'pop' back the right way later in the retraction.
1830 GMT (1:30 p.m. EST)
Mission Control says all of the telemetry was normal during the initial retraction.
1829 GMT (1:29 p.m. EST)
Once the third bay was retracted, the process was stopped as planned. The crew will be examining the wing to ensure it is safe to continue.
1829 GMT (1:29 p.m. EST)
Two bays have been retracted so far.
1828 GMT (1:28 p.m. EST)
The retraction command has been issued. The wing will be rolled up three sections -- or "bays" -- in this initial phase of the retraction. The wing is comprised of 31 bays in total.
1755 GMT (12:55 p.m. EST)
Retraction of the solar array begins in about 30 minutes. The astronauts have positioned cameras and the robot arms to view the wing being rolled up, which promises to be one of the visual highlights of Discovery's mission. Earlier today, flight controllers completed the power load transfer off of the wing that will be retracted.
A highly detailed report about the retraction and why it is being performed is available here.
1521 GMT (10:21 a.m. EST)
The shuttle crew just received its wakeup call Mission Control to begin flight day 5. Meanwhile, the station crew will be getting up in about 30 minutes. On tap today is retracting one of the Port 6 truss' solar wings.
0800 GMT (3:00 a.m. EST)
With a successful spacewalk behind them, the Discovery astronauts, the space station's crew and scores of engineers and flight controllers move into the most critical phase of the current station assembly mission today with the planned retraction of a huge solar array wing.
Read our full story.
0543 GMT (12:43 a.m. EST)
Check out our podcast covering today's spacewalk here or by signing up on iTunes.
0500 GMT (12:00 a.m. EST)
Astronauts Bob Curbeam and Swedish flier Christer Fuglesang successfully bolted a short spacer segment to the space station's main solar power truss today during the first of three spacewalks planned for the shuttle Discovery's mission.
Read our full story.
0309 GMT (10:09 p.m. EST Tues.)
EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 10:07 p.m. EST, marking the official conclusion of this first of three spacewalks during Discovery's mission to the space station. Today's EVA lasted six hours and 36 minutes.
0304 GMT (10:04 p.m. EST Tues.)
The hatch is closed and locked.
0258 GMT (9:58 p.m. EST Tues.)
The spacewalkers are climbing back into the airlock.
0245 GMT (9:45 p.m. EST Tues.)
Fuglesang reports he has lost overboard an extension tool that goes on his cordless screwdriver, which would have been needed to release the remaining launch locks on the P5 truss. So he will be returning to the airlock now to conclude today's EVA. He told flight controllers he didn't see in which direction the tool floated away.
0215 GMT (9:15 p.m. EST Tues.)
The camera replacement was the last planned job in this EVA. But since there is still available time left in the spacewalk, the crew and flight controllers have decided to send Fuglesang back to the P5 truss to complete removal of two additional outboard launch locks. That was a get-ahead task that was partially completed earlier in the EVA. Curbeam will return to the airlock to begin putting away tools and performing the cleanup chores.
0207 GMT (9:07 p.m. EST Tues.)
The Starboard 1 truss has a fresh new external video camera. The spacewalkers have completed the installation, which was ordered because the original camera had color problems. The camera position is needed for upcoming station assembly events.
0157 GMT (8:57 p.m. EST Tues.)
The old camera has been removed. Fuglesang is pulling the new camera out its packaging for installation on the station.
0140 GMT (8:40 p.m. EST Tues.)
While at the airlock, Fuglesang is going to do a brief consumable recharge of his spacesuit. Then he will proceed out to the S1 truss to join Curbeam.
0115 GMT (8:15 p.m. EST Tues.)
The spacewalkers are finished working on the P5 truss for today. They are moving to the other side of the space station to replace the faulty external video camera on the Starboard 1 truss. Curbeam will prepare the worksite while Fuglesang picks up the new camera from the airlock. Then they will work together to swap out the cameras.
0102 GMT (8:02 p.m. EST Tues.)
Curbeam has completed connecting the utility cables. Fuglesang is working to remove outboard launch locks.
0045 GMT (7:45 p.m. EST Tues.)
Additional get-ahead tasks on the P5 that the spacewalkers have been given the OK to tackle include releasing the truss' outboard launch locks and prepping the capture latch that will be used to install Port 6 in the future.
0031 GMT (7:31 p.m. EST Tues.)
Now passing the four-hour mark. Bob Curbeam is mating the utility cables between the P4 and P5 trusses while Christer Fuglesang double-checks the torques on grapple bar bolts.
0016 GMT (7:16 p.m. EST Tues.)
Since the EVA is going smoothly, Mission Control has approved the addition of some get-ahead tasks on the Port 5 truss. So the spacewalkers will be turning their attention to routing some utility cables between the Port 4 truss to the newly-installed P5.
0014 GMT (7:14 p.m. EST Tues.)
The spacewalkers removed the grapple fixture from the P5 truss and attached it to the station arm's mobile base for temporary storage. It will be used to help move the Port 6 truss later in the station assembly sequence.
0001 GMT (7:01 p.m. EST Tues.)
Now 3.5 hours into today's spacewalk. The astronauts remain on the timeline as they work to remove the grapple bar from the P5 truss.
Read our earlier status center coverage.
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