The Atlantis astronauts worked through a relatively light day in space Thursday, preparing for a third and final spacewalk Friday before taking their afternoon off to relax and enjoy the view from 220 miles up.

Credit: NASA

Their space station colleagues, meanwhile, planned to open the hatch of the new mini-research module - Rassvet - that was attached to the Earth-facing port of the Russian Zarya module Tuesday. The module is loaded with 1.5 tons of U.S. supplies and equipment, most of which will be unloaded after Atlantis departs.

The major item on the agenda today is to sample and filter the air inside the module to remove any suspended particles that might have shaken free during launch. As always when a new module is opened for the first time, the crew planned to wear goggles and dust masks as a safety precaution.

"The first thing we need to do is make sure the crew's going to be safe when they get into the new module," said Flight Director Scott Stover. "So we spent a lot of time going over procedures and getting a lot of equipment, like goggles and dust masks, all that ready for the crew to go in.

"Things like dust can be shook up, paint flecks could have come off from some of the material inside there and now that it's in a zero gravity environment, we are afraid that stuff's going to float around and either get into the eyes of the crew members or they could inhale it. So that's why we have them wear the goggles and dust masks."

After leak checks to verify the integrity of the seal between the new module and Zarya, the hatch will be opened around 6:30 a.m.

"It's always a great day for us to get a new module on the space station and open it up so we can get to work inside," Stover said.

Shuttle commander Ken Ham, pilot Tony Antonelli, robot arm operator Piers Sellers and space station flight engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson planned to participate in round-robin media interviews with CBS News, Fox News Radio and The Associated Press starting at 8:25 a.m.

The shuttle crew was scheduled begin a half day of off-duty time at 9:45 a.m. They planned to review procedures for Friday's spacewalk at 1:45 p.m. and go to bed at 5:50 p.m.

Astronauts Garrett Reisman and Michael Good planned to spend the night in the space station's Quest airlock module at a reduced pressure of 10.2 pounds per square inch to help purge nitrogen from their bloodstreams in preparation for a spacewalk Friday to finish installing a set of solar array batteries.

Here is an updated timeline of today's activity (in EDT and mission elapsed time; includes revision F of the NASA television schedule):

EDT........DD...HH...MM...EVENT

05/20
01:50 AM...05...11...30...Crew wakeup
03:35 AM...05...13...15...ISS daily planning conference
05:00 AM...05...14...40...EVA-3: Spacesuit reconfig
05:15 AM...05...14...55...MRM-1/Zarya leak checks
05:50 AM...05...15...30...EVA-3: Tools configured
06:30 AM...05...16...10...MRM-1 hatch open
06:50 AM...05...16...30...MRM-1 air cleaning/sample
07:30 AM...05...17...10...EVA-3: Equipment lock preps
08:15 AM...05...17...55...EVA-3: Procedures review (1)
08:25 AM...05...18...05...CBS Radio/Fox News/AP interviews
08:45 AM...05...18...25...Joint crew meal
09:45 AM...05...19...25...Shuttle crew off duty
10:15 AM...05...19...55...MRM-1 ingress prep
11:30 AM...05...21...10...Mission status briefing on NTV
01:45 PM...05...23...25...EVA-3: Procedures review (2)
02:50 PM...06...30...00...ISS daily planning conference
04:15 PM...06...01...55...EVA-3: Oxygen pre-breathe protocol
04:50 PM...06...02...30...EVA-3: 10.2 psi campout begins
05:20 PM...06...03...00...ISS crew sleep begins
05:50 PM...06...03...30...STS crew sleep begins
06:00 PM...06...03...40...Daily highlights reel
09:00 PM...06...06...40...HD crew highlights

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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: ASSOCIATED PRESS, FOX AND CBS INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: DINNER TIME IS FUN TMIE IN SPACE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: THE VICTORIOUS SPACEWALKERS PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: MIKE AND STEVE RETURN FROM EVA PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 6 PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: REMOVING GIMBAL LOCKS ON ANTENNA DISH PLAY
VIDEO: ADDING TO TORQUE TO NEW KU-BAND ATENNA PLAY
VIDEO: THE DAY'S FINAL NEW BATTERY INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: THIRD OLD BATTERY PULLED OUT AND STOWED PLAY
VIDEO: SECOND FRESH BATTERY PUT INTO STATION PLAY
VIDEO: FIRST OF THE NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS REMOVE FIRST OLD BATTERY PLAY
VIDEO: CABLE ON INSPECTION SENSOR UNTANGLED PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 2 PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 6 ACTIVITIES PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: FLIGHT DECK OF ATLANTIS PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: GIVING WATER TO STATION PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: INSIDE DESTINY LABORATORY PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: ROBOTICS WORKSTATION IN CUPOLA PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: LOOKING OUT WINDOW AT EARTH PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: DAILY SHUTTLE CHORES PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 5 PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: MSNBC AND CNN INTERVIEWS OF CREW PLAY
VIDEO: CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL AROUND PLAY
VIDEO: RASSVET CAPTURED AND SECURED TO ZARYA MODULE! PLAY
VIDEO: TWEAKING FINAL ALIGNMENT OVER DOCKING PORT PLAY
VIDEO: DOCKING PROBE EXTENDED FROM RASSVET NOSE PLAY
VIDEO: SWINGING RASSVET FROM ATLANTIS TO STATION PLAY
VIDEO: RASSVET UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED OVERVIEW OF RUSSIA'S RASSVET MODULE PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED OVERVIEW OF MISSION'S CARGO CARRIER PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: AN ADDITION TO DEXTRE ROBOT PLAY
VIDEO: TORQUING ANTENNA ASSEMBLY INTO PLACE PLAY
VIDEO: FETCHING 6-FOOT-DIAMETER ANTENNA DISH PLAY
VIDEO: BOLTING BOOM ATOP STATION'S Z1 TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS HANDOFF ANTENNA BOOM PLAY
VIDEO: UNPACKING ANTENNA BOOM FROM CARRIER PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALK NO. 1 BEGINS PLAY
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 1 PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 4 ACTIVITIES PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM CHAIRMAN UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: CARRIER ATTACHED TO STATION'S RAILCAR PLAY
VIDEO: CARGO PALLET LIFTED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR SHUTTLE CREW PLAY
VIDEO: ATLANTIS DOCKS TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PERFORMS BACKFLIP MANEUVER PLAY
VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF SHUTTLE ATLANTIS APPROACHING PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 3 ACTIVITIES PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 2 PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM CHAIRMAN UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: THE FULL STS-132 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AFB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS WEARING TUXEDOS LAUNCH DAY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ATLANTIS ON EVE OF FINAL PLANNED LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD'S SERVICE TOWER RETRACTED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS INSPECT THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: JERRY ROSS' LAUNCH ON MISSION STS-61B PLAY
VIDEO: MAIDEN LAUNCH OF ATLANTIS AS SEEN LIVE IN 1985 PLAY
VIDEO: ATLANTIS' FIRST MISSION ENDS WITH LAKEBED LANDING PLAY
VIDEO: AN ASTRONAUT'S TRIBUTE TO SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PLAY

VIDEO: COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER FORECAST PLAY
VIDEO: WATCH NASA'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: GET BRIEFED ON THE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: HEAR FROM THE COMMANDER AT THE RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH KEN HAM PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH TONY ANTONELLI PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH GARRETT REISMAN PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH MIKE GOOD PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH STEVE BOWEN PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH PIERS SELLERS PLAY

VIDEO: STS-132 MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FULL FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: RECAP OF THE FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MANAGERS ASSESS ISSUES BEFORE FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: UPDATE ON PRE-LAUNCH PREPS AT PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PROGRAM BRIEFING BY SHUTTLE AND STATION CHIEFS PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-132 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD ATLANTIS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH DAY REHEARSAL BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TEST-DRIVING AN EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW'S CHAT WITH REPORTERS AT PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: GANTRY PLACED AROUND ATLANTIS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS REACHES PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CROWDS AND THE CREW CHEER ON ATLANTIS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: OVERNIGHT ROLLOUT TO THE PAD BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SHUTTLE HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ATLANTIS RISES OFF THE TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ORBITER EMERGES FROM ITS HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BUTTONING UP RUDDER/SPEED BRAKE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DOME SHIELDS AROUND MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK ATTACHED TO BOOSTERS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PAYLOADS HEAD FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RASSVET PLACED INTO THE TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PALLET LOADED WITH MISSION'S CARGO PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RUSSIAN RASSVET MODULE ON DISPLAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RUSSIAN ENGINEERS DISCUSS THEIR RASSVET MODULE PLAY
VIDEO: RASSVET HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FILLING MODULE WITH NASA SUPPLIES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS VISIT THEIR SPACECRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW INSPECTS RASSVET MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF
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