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'It's In, Thank God': Astronauts Finish Risky Chore

Pair must retrieve explosive bolt from Soyuz craft

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2008 5:17 PM CDT

(Newser) – Two Russian astronauts successfully removed an apparently defective bolt from their Soyuz spacecraft during a risky spacewalk today, the Houston Chronicle reports. The bolt itself packed the punch of an explosive firecracker, so the astronauts had to disconnect it, then stuff it into a steel case. "It's in, thank God," said one of the spacewalkers.

The past two Soyuz descents to Earth from the International Space Station have been dangerously fast and off course, and Moscow thinks the bolt is culprit. Today's mission should make for a safer trip home in October. The two Russians will have little time to rest—they've got another spacewalk, this one more routine, scheduled for tomorrow.

In this image from NASA TV, International Space Station Commander Sergei Volkov is seen during a space walk on the International Space Station, Thursday, July 10, 2008. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

In this image from NASA TV, International Space Station flight engineer Oleg Konokano is seen during a space walk on the International Space Station, Thursday, July 10, 2008. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

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'It's In, Thank God': Astronauts Finish Risky Chore

Pair must retrieve explosive bolt from Soyuz craft

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Capsule Returns 3 to Earth

Astronauts had spent 165 days in space

Crew Emerges From 520-Day Mars 'Flight'

Mission 'lands' without ever leaving planet

Space Station May Be Forced to Go Unmanned

Would be first time in a decade

Russian Spaceship Fails to Orbit, Crashes to Earth

Unmanned craft caused thunderous boom in Siberia

Astronauts Break Record for Longest 'Space' Mission

...without actually leaving the planet

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'It's In, Thank God': Astronauts Finish Risky Chore

Pair must retrieve explosive bolt from Soyuz craft

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Russia • astronauts • International Space Station • spacewalk • cosmonauts • Soyuz

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Capsule Returns 3 to Earth

Astronauts had spent 165 days in space

Crew Emerges From 520-Day Mars 'Flight'

Mission 'lands' without ever leaving planet

Space Station May Be Forced to Go Unmanned

Would be first time in a decade

Russian Spaceship Fails to Orbit, Crashes to Earth

Unmanned craft caused thunderous boom in Siberia

Astronauts Break Record for Longest 'Space' Mission

...without actually leaving the planet

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?