LIVE: STS-117 Flight Day 10 - EVA 4

[kneecaps]

Flight Day 10 Begins!

Atlantis wake-up call was the theme from 'Band of Brothers', the BBC/HBO miniseries.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5138 - for EVA-4 notes (end of article)

[Chandonn]

Today's Spacewalk:

"Objectives of the spacewalk, scheduled to begin just after midday EDT, include verification of DLA-2 installation, suspected of being mislabelled for DLA-1, removing the remaining SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint) launch restraints.

Also involved will be the stowing of the S3 drag link/keel pin, relocating an APFR (Articulated Portable Foot Restraint) and installing MMOD (Micrometeoroid/Orbital Debris) shields bolts, preparing the MT Mobile Transporter) translation path, removing GPS-4 antenna, removing SASA (S-band Antenna Support Assembly) gimbal locks, and more.

The EVA is expected to take around six hours."

From Chris' article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5138

[Felix]

Execute package
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/180221main_fd10_ex_pkg.pdf

[Felix]

[Felix]

[Felix]

[JMS]

Can anyone give insight into the ill fitting MM shield in the location of the new hydrogen vent valve?
If I understand correctly, the plan is to "permanently" restrain it in place using tethers.
Are the mis aligning Zeus fittings indicative of some sort of expansion/contraction of the structure in that area?

Thanks.

[Chris Bergin]

Moved it into here as it's related to today's activities.

The tetheres were a temp measure, as seen in the plans for EVA-4, they are going to attempt to install the shield's bolts today. If that doesn't work then they'll have to go with the tethers, but as to why it's been problematic...I don't think the reasons have yet been noted.

[JMS]

Thank's for the clarification Chris.
And thank you for this site.

[Fred Clausen]

Awesome view of the shuttle.

[JimO]

I had heard talk earlier that the crew might have rushed the internal OGS 'waste hydrogen' vent line reconfiguration so that the opening of the valve (that was installed closed, on Friday) could occur this EVA instead of later in the Increment. This would be the last hardware upgrade needed to activate OGS, which would have been nice to have, especially if 'Elektron' wasn't controllable. But it seems they didn't take this step. There is still internal plumbing needed to get a permanent water run from the dehumidifier to the OGS, but as is, the OGS can operate over water bags filled and manually hooked in. In a year or two, the H2 vent line will be rerouted into the Sabatier CO2 reactor that is yet to arrive -- that's an impressive technological step up, too.

[British NASA]

Sounds like a plan JimO! Will it depend on how they do on the other tasks, or is this one of the priority tasks for EVA-4?

[JMS]

Appreciate the added info Jim.
And thanks for the excellent job in covering this mission.
Space supporters could use a hundred more balanced and informed corespondents like you.

[Zachstar]

Handover activities.

[Zachstar]

So they will start dumping methane after that?

Or is there a planned thruster that can handle methane fuel for ISS?