Astronauts’ Spacewalk Is Likely the Last for Months
Astronauts aboard the international space station ventured outside for more than six hours Tuesday to wrap up maintenance tasks on what was probably the last spacewalk for months.
Commander Ken Bowersox and science officer Don Pettit finished their work early and spent an extra 80 minutes collecting tools and tethers that had been left outside during previous spacewalks.
Russian flight engineer Nikolai Budarin assisted from inside the station, orbiting 240 miles above Earth.
“I want you all to know how happy everybody is, what a great job you guys did,” said Carlos Noriega, the spacewalk communicator in Houston.
Bowersox said he was happy with the work but wished that he and Pettit could have performed more tasks. No spacewalks are planned with the two-man crews that will occupy the station beginning next month.
The three are supposed to return home in May after they are replaced by astronaut Edward Lu and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
