Watch: The astronauts removed the malfunctioning ammonia pump on the International Space Station

On Monday they will try to start attaching the replacement pump and if they fail, they will go on a third spacewalk on Wednesday 

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio works outside the International Space Station during the first of a series of spacewalks to replace a broken ammonia pump module. Photo: NASA TV
Astronaut Rick Mastracchio works outside the International Space Station during the first of a series of spacewalks to replace a broken ammonia pump module. Photo: NASA TV

International Space Station Crew 38 American astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins spent five hours and 28 minutes spacewalking outside the International Space Station. They returned to her after completing the first of a series of three spacewalks added to the mission outside of the normal plan, with the goal of replacing the broken ammonia pump module in one of the station's two external cooling loops that keep the equipment inside and outside the space station cold.

During Saturday's spacewalk, the two astronauts focused on removing the damaged pump module from the thermal control center of the external cooling system loop. As I recall, on December 11, one of the valves in the ammonia pump got stuck and caused the temperature in the station's cooling lines to drop. On Monday they will be back there to start installing the replacement pump. If they don't complete the installation, they will go on a third spacewalk on Wednesday.

As you remember, NASA had to disable scientific experiments and non-essential equipment in the areas for which the faulty cooling system is responsible.

See news from yesterday: The leaking space suit has been repaired in preparation for an operation of three space walks in the coming week - the first of which is today

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YQ49PIJO-M

Highlights from the spacewalk - December 21, 2013.

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