EVAs in October

[GordonD]

26 OCTOBER

 

2007 Scott Parazynski & Douglas Wheelock (STS-120/ISS)

 

Duration 6 hr 14 min

 

The EVA began with the astronauts disconnecting a failed antenna from the station and stowing it in the Orbiter's cargo bay. They then disconnected fluid lines from the P6 Truss, ready for its transfer to its permanent location. However the main task was to prepare for the installation of the Harmony module: they released its launch power cables and attached a grapple fixture: they also closed a window cover which had unexpectedly opened during launch. The module was then moved to its temporary location on the port side of Unity until other preparations had been completed. This would add some 75 cubic metres to the station's habitable volume, an increase of almost twenty percent.

 

Fifth EVA for Parazynski; Wheelock's first.

 

 

[GordonD]

27 OCTOBER

 

No EVAs on this date.

[GordonD]

28 OCTOBER

 

2007 Scott Parazynski & Daniel Tani (STS-120/ISS)

 

Duration 6 hr 33 min

 

The astronauts disconnected the umbilicals linking the P6 Truss to Z1 and removed the attachment bolts. Tani then examined the Solar Array Rotary Joint, which had been experiencing increased vibrations. He discovered metallic debris under its insulation covers, so samples were collected for study and use of the joint was limited until further notice. The pair then finalised the installation of the Harmony module, still in its temporary location, by fitting its grappling fixture, handrails and foot restraint sockets. They removed the module's berthing mechanism pins, though one was lost overboard. Finally they reconfigured the S1 Truss connection, allowing its radiator to be controlled from the ground.

 

Fifth EVA for Parazynski; the second for Tani

 

 

2015 Scott Kelly & Kjell Lindgren (ISS Expedition 45)

 

Duration 7 hr 16 min

 

The astronauts prepared a Main Switching Bus for repair, installed a thermal cover on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, lubricated elements of the manipulator arm and routed data and power cables to prepare for the installation of the International Docking Adaptor.

 

First EVA for both astronauts.

[GordonD]

29 OCTOBER

 

1990 Gennadi Manakov & Gennadi Strekalov (Mir Expedition 7)

 

Duration 2 hr 45 min

 

Originally scheduled for 19 October but postponed because Strekalov was suffering from a cold, this EVA saw the cosmonauts attempt to repair the Kvant 2 airlock hatch. Using a specially-designed tool, they cut away insulation to reveal the damaged hinge, but found that it was beyond their ability to deal with it. They attached a special latch to ensure that the hatch could be closed properly and ended the spacewalk. A further EVA to prepare for transferring solar arrays from Kristall to Kvant was postponed until the next expedition crew could replace the hinge.

 

First EVA for both cosmonauts.

 

 

1993 Vasili Tsibliyev & Aleksandr Serebrov (Mir Expedition 14)

 

Duration 4 hr 12 min

 

After two EVAs cut short due to spacesuit problems, the cosmonauts were at last able to complete the Panorama survey of Mir's exterior. They filmed the station's main communications antenna and the solar arrays, then inspected the mount of the Sofora boom and installed another space exposure experiment package. During the EVA a small piece of metal of undetermined origin drifted past but there was no danger. The final task was to jettison the spacesuit which had given trouble on the previous EVA: this was pressurised and rigged to look as if it was saluting as it moved away.

 

Fifth EVA for Tsibleyev; Tenth and last for Serebrov, giving a career total of 31 hr 52 min. Serebrov is the first to make this many spacewalks.

[GordonD]

30 OCTOBER

 

2007 Scott Parazynski & Douglas Wheelock (STS-120/ISS)

 

Duration 7 hr 8 min

 

With the P6 Truss moved to its final position by the manipulator arm, the astronauts bolted it in place and connected the power and data cables. They then removed the truss's thermal blanket and the restraints that held the radiator folded shut. Parazynski examined the rotary joint but did not find any new metallic debris. The astronauts then attempted to deploy the new truss's solar arrays but due to a tear it would only extend by around eighty percent so further operations were suspended until this could be investigated. As they re-entered the airlock, Wheelock discovered a puncture in his right glove and though this was not serious it was taken out of service. Afterwards, the astronauts realised they had accidentally left a camera outside.

 

Sixth EVA for Parazynski; Wheelock's second.

[GordonD]

31 OCTOBER

 

No EVAs on this date.