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Recovered Astronaut Steps Up for Spacewalk

Illness over, German astronaut readies for spacewalk

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 13, 2008 4:00 AM CST

(Newser) – A German astronaut who was too sick for a scheduled spacewalk earlier this week is feeling much better, and preparing for his first step into the great outdoors today, reports Space.com. "I'm doing very fine," Hans Schlegel, 56, said via videolink from the International Space Station. Schlegel said it was disappointing to have to stay inside NASA's Atlantis orbiter while his colleagues were installing the Columbus lab in the station.

The astronaut, who declined to reveal the nature of his illness, will help replace an empty nitrogen tank during the rescheduled spacewalk. Yesterday marked the halfway point in the 12-day mission to install the lab and deliver a French astronaut to join the 16-member crew aboard the station. "The view of Earth is the most incredible experience, and we get to do it for 12 days," said astronaut Stephen Frick.

This image from NASA Television shows the European Space Agency's Columbus module, at lower right, attached to the International Space Station, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. The module was lifted from the payload bay of the shuttle Atlantis on Monday, Feb. 11 and installed during a spacewalk. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
This image from NASA Television shows the European Space Agency's Columbus module, at lower right, attached to the International Space Station, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. The module was lifted from the payload...   (Associated Press)
In this image from NASA Television astronaut Rex Walheim, left, and Stanley Love are seen during a spacewalk to install the Columbus module on the International Space Station, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
In this image from NASA Television astronaut Rex Walheim, left, and Stanley Love are seen during a spacewalk to install the Columbus module on the International Space Station, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. (AP...   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by NASA, backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the docking mechanism, foreground, Columbus laboratory in space shuttle Atlantis' aft payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and Atlantis' Remote Manipulator System/Orbiter Boom Sensor System (RMS/OBSS) are featured in this image photographed by a...
In this photo provided by NASA, backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the docking mechanism, foreground, Columbus laboratory in space shuttle Atlantis' aft payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering...   (Associated Press)
In this handout photo from NASA, European Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel of Germany is seen during suit-up at the Kennedy Space Station, Fla. Thursday Feb. 7, 2008. Schlegel was too ill to participate in a planned spacewalk Monday but says he's now feeling much better.  (AP Photo/NASA,HO)
In this handout photo from NASA, European Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel of Germany is seen during suit-up at the Kennedy Space Station, Fla. Thursday Feb. 7, 2008. Schlegel was too ill to participate...   (Associated Press)
STS-112 Mission Specialists, from left, Leopold Eyharts, of France, Stanley Love, Hans Schlegel, of Germany, Rex Walheim, and Leland Melvin, prepare to board the astronaut van for a trip to Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on the space shuttle Atlantis Thursday Feb. 7, 2008 at the Kennedy Space...
STS-112 Mission Specialists, from left, Leopold Eyharts, of France, Stanley Love, Hans Schlegel, of Germany, Rex Walheim, and Leland Melvin, prepare to board the astronaut van for a trip to Launch Pad...   (Associated Press)
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