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Approaching Debris Doesn't Stop Spacewalk

Space junk may come within 2 miles of station, shuttle

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 3, 2009 6:25 PM CDT

(AP) – Two astronauts stepped out on a spacewalk to install a new tank of space-station coolant today as a large piece of orbiting junk headed their way. The old rocket part was expected to pass early tomorrow within 2 miles of the shuttle-station complex, considered a safe distance by NASA specialists. Managers decided there was no need to move the linked spacecraft out of the way and proceeded with the spacewalk as planned.

Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang were nearly an hour late heading out the hatch because of minor spacesuit problems. It was the second spacewalk in three days for the Discovery and space station crews. Their main job 220 miles up was to collect the new fully loaded ammonia tank from Discovery and hook it up to the space station. The old tank, launched 7 years ago, was removed during Tuesday's spacewalk.

NASA astronaut Danny Olivas is seen during Tuesday's spacewalk. (NASA)

NASA astronaut Nicole Stott is seen during Tuesday's spacewalk. (NASA)

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Space junk may come within 2 miles of station, shuttle

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Space junk may come within 2 miles of station, shuttle

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NASA • International Space Station • spacewalk • Discovery • space junk • Danny Olivas • Christer Fuglesang

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

NASA OKs First Private Space Station Trip

SpaceX will send up cargo in February

NASA-Backed 'Space Taxi' to Fly Next Year

Dream Chaser's first test flight scheduled for summer 2012

Another Falling Satellite on Its Way

1.6 tons of space junk could land somewhere on Earth

ISS Captures Southern Lights

Rare footage of Aurora Australis released

NASA: Satellite Fell in Remote South Pacific

Scientists think UARS picked the perfect spot

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?