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Stinging Eye Almost Derails Spacewalk

Astronaut Andrew Feustel has an eye irritation ... 220 miles up

By the Associated Press

Posted May 25, 2011 11:48 AM CDT

(AP) – Eyelash, space dust, tears … who knows what was, but an astronaut today got something in his eye that stung "like crazy"—and almost interrupted a spacewalk. Several minutes later, Andrew Feustel assured everyone his eye was feeling better and the third spacewalk of the Endeavour continued as planned. The incident came as the spacewalk hit the five-hour mark. Feustel and Mike Fincke had just finished running power cables from the US side of the orbiting house to the Russian half. Feustel managed to rub his eye against a strap in his helmet and said that helped.

Spacewalkers noted that the problem with tears in space is that "they don't fall off of your eye ... they kind of stay there." The Endeavor is scheduled to land for the last time on June 1. NASA will close out the 30-year shuttle program in July with one last mission by Atlantis. (Click to read more on the Endeavor's rather eventful final mission.)

In this image taken from NASA television spacewalker Mike Fincke repositions himself on the International Space Station after laying power cables and adding a robot arm attachment during the third space walk early Wednesday May 25, 2011.
In this image taken from NASA television spacewalker Mike Fincke repositions himself on the International Space Station after laying power cables and adding a robot arm attachment during the third space...   ((AP Photo/NASA))
In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Astronaut Andrew Feustel reenters the space station after completing a spacewalk on May 22, 2011.
In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Astronaut Andrew Feustel reenters the space station after completing a spacewalk on May 22, 2011.   (Getty Images)
IN SPACE - MAY 20: In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Astronaut Drew Feustel works in the vacuum of space during the first of four spacewalks during the STS-134 mission of NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station on May 20, 2011 in...
IN SPACE - MAY 20: In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Astronaut Drew Feustel works in the vacuum of space during the first of four spacewalks during the...   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 4 comments
Scaramouche
May 25, 2011 3:42 PM CDT
Who doesn't know how to blow air at their own eyes? I do it all the time when something hits my eye but my hands are full. Just bounce a stream of air off your cheeks. Good grief, Mr. Right Stuff. Of course, if it was an eyelash, I retract the above. Those things can be a bitch when they get under your eyelid...
Mr_Joshua
May 25, 2011 2:06 PM CDT
And I thought itchy nuts on a spacewalk was the worst. And you can call me..............Mr Joshua

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
NASA • astronauts • International Space Station • Endeavour • spacewalk • Space Shuttle Endeavour • Mike Finke

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