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Astronauts make 100th station spacewalk



Dan Tani (top) and Peggy Whitson (bottom) spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Dec. 18, 2007. (NASA TV)
December 18, 2007

— Two astronauts stepped outside the International Space Station this morning, making the 100th spacewalk dedicated to the ongoing assembly of the orbiting outpost. The 6 hour and 56 minute extravehicular activity (EVA) performed by astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani came 9 years and 11 days after the first station spacewalk in December 1998.

Today's excursion was devoted to inspecting two devices related to the station's power generating solar arrays, both of which have malfunctioned. Tani and Whitson were sent on the "fact-finding mission" to the solar alpha rotary joint (SARJ) and beta gimbal assembly (BGA) on the station's starboard-side in an attempt to diagnose what has caused the earlier to shed metal filings and the latter to trip circuit breakers.

The decision by mission managers to have Whitson and Tani conduct the EVA came after space shuttle Atlantis was delayed from launching earlier this month by a faulty low level fuel sensor system. NASA engineers began a tanking test at Kennedy Space Center while Whitson and Tani were outside in order to clear Atlantis for a January liftoff.

As the spacewalk was quickly scheduled, the Expedition 16 astronauts were surprised to learn it was the 100th in station history when collectSPACE.com spoke with them last week.

"That's actually news to us about the 100th EVA," said Tani in response to a question from collectSPACE.com. "It is kind of mind boggling. I remember pre-ISS talking about the hundreds — or more than one hundred — EVAs that are going to be required for assembly and thinking that was a huge mountain to climb."

"We're proud to be part of those hundred EVAs. It's very nice to know that we're going to make that 100 mark," he concluded.


Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson is seen during the 100th spacewalk outside the International Space Station. (NASA)

In addition to making the 100th spacewalk, Whitson also set a record today for female total EVA time, surpassing Sunita Williams who had set the bar at 29 hours and 17 minutes last February. Whitson became the first woman to command the ISS when she arrived at the station three months ago.

Including today's pair of spacewalkers, 73 astronauts and cosmonauts have worked on the ISS's exterior, including three representatives from the European Space Agency (France, Germany and Sweden), three from the Canadian Space Agency and an astronaut from Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency.

More than 624 hours — over 26 days — were logged by those 73 explorers while performing spacewalks. Almost a third of the EVAs began out the space shuttle's airlock; the remaining exited from the station, either from the US Quest or Russian Pirs airlocks. Two-thirds of the EVAs took place while a shuttle was docked at the station; the others, like today's, during the stages between missions.

The first ISS spacewalk was made on December 7, 1998, on the same flight that saw the docking of the first two station modules. STS-88 mission specialists Jerry Ross and Jim Newman completed the 7 hour, 21 minute EVA outside of Endeavour, connecting umbilicals on the Unity node.

The longest duration station EVA was performed by Jim Voss and Susan Helms during the 17th ISS spacewalk on March 11, 2001. For 8 hours and 56 minutes, the two astronauts worked to configure a docking port to receive a resupply module. The briefest EVA came three years later, after a loss of pressure in Mike Fincke's oxygen tank cut short the 53rd spacewalk to just 13 minutes.

The 100th station spacewalk was also the 289th in space history. The 100th American and Russian EVAs also took place outside the ISS: the U.S. in February 2001 on the 15th ISS spacewalk; Russia, just 8 months later, on the 27th ISS EVA.

"That's an amazing record of resounding success," Tani radioed as he made his way back inside near the end of today's spacewalk. "A hundred space EVAs is fantastic and even though we lose a piece of tape here and there, I think we've done incredible work and I know we couldn't have built the space station without it."

"Of course we want to thank everyone involved in this EVA," Tani continued, "but also everybody who has worked on all hundred EVAs. Everybody who makes the suits, the gloves and the procedures and the tools... we thank them all. It's fantastic and fortunate to be the people out here doing the spacewalk but we know that all the hard work happens on the ground."

"Oh! Thank you to whoever makes Kapton tape, too!" he was quick to add.


No. Spacewalkers Date/Duration Tasks

1.

J. Ross
J. Newman

Dec 7, 1998
7 hr, 21 min

Connect Unity node cables.

2.

J. Ross
J. Newman

Dec 9, 1998
7 hr, 2 min

Install Unity antennas.

3.

J. Ross
J. Newman

Dec 12, 1998
6 hr, 59 min

Install Unity EVA equipment.

4.

T. Jernigan
D. Barry

May 30, 1999
7 hr, 55 min

Install cranes.

5.

J.S. Voss
J. Williams

May 22, 2000
6 hr, 44 min

Crane repair.

6.

E. Lu
Y. Malenchenko

Sep 11, 2000
6 hr, 14 min

Install magnetometer and boom.

7.

L. Chiao
W. McArthur

Oct 15, 2000
6 hr, 28 min

Connect cables and install antennas.

8.

M. Lopez-Alegria
P. Wisoff

Oct 16, 2000
7 hr, 07 min

Install PMA-3 docking port

9.

L. Chiao
W. McArthur

Oct 17, 2000
6 hr, 48 min

Install Z1 truss on Unity.

10.

M. Lopez-Alegria
P. Wisoff

Oct 18, 2000
6 hr, 56 min

Install Z1 truss.

11.

J. Tanner
C. Noriega

Dec 3, 2000
7 hr, 33 min

Install P6 solar array to Z1 truss.

12.

J. Tanner
C. Noriega

Dec 5, 2000
6 hr, 37 min

Install P6 solar array.

13.

J. Tanner
C. Noriega

Dec 7, 2000
5 hr, 10 min

Install electrical probes.

14.

T. Jones
R. Curbeam

Feb 10, 2001
7 hr, 34 min

Install Destiny lab to Unity.

15.

T. Jones
R. Curbeam

Feb 12, 2001
6 hr, 50 min

Install docking module to Destiny.

16.

T. Jones
R. Curbeam

Feb 14, 2001
5 hr, 25 min

Install antenna, radiator release.

17.

J.S. Voss
S. Helms

Mar 11, 2001
8 hr, 56 min

Prepare docking port for MPLM Leonardo.

18.

A. Thomas
P. Richards

Mar 13, 2001
6 hr, 21 min

Install spare ammonia coolant pump.

19.

C. Hadfield
S. Parazynski

Apr 22, 2001
7 hr, 10 min

Install UHF antenna and Canadarm2.

20.

C. Hadfield
S. Parazynski

Apr 24, 2001
7 hr, 40 min

Inspect Canadarm2.

21.

Y. Usachev
J.S. Voss

Jun 8, 2001
0 hr, 19 min

Transfer docking cone.

22.

M. Gernhardt
J. Reilly

Jul 15, 2001
5 hr, 59 min

Install Quest Joint Airlock to Unity.

23.

M. Gernhardt
J. Reilly

July 18, 2001
6 hr, 29 min

Install two gas tanks to Quest airlock.

24.

M. Gernhardt
J. Reilly

Jul 21, 2001
4 hr, 02 min

Install two gas tanks to Quest airlock.

25.

D. Barry
P. Forrester

Aug 16, 2001
6 hr, 16 min

Install ammonia servicer unit.

26.

D. Barry
P. Forrester

Aug 18, 2001
5 hr, 29 min

Install handrails on Destiny.

27.

V. Dezhurov
M. Tyurin

Oct 8, 2001
4 hr, 58 min

Install cables between Pirs and Zvezda.

28.

V. Dezhurov
M. Tyurin

Oct 15, 2001
5 hr, 51 min

Install Russian commercial experiments.

29.

V. Dezhurov
F. Culbertson

Nov 12, 2001
5 hr, 5 min

Install Kurs automated docking system cables.

30.

V. Dezhurov
M. Tyurin

Dec 3, 2001
2 hr, 46 min

Progress docking ring repair.

31.

L. Godwin
D. Tani

Dec 10, 2001
4 hr, 12 min

Install thermal insulating blankets.

32.

Y. Onufrienko
C. Walz

Jan 14, 2002
6 hr, 3 min

Install ham radio antenna on Zvezda.

33.

Y. Onufrienko
D. Bursch

Jan 25, 2002
5 hr, 59 min

Install ham radio antenna on Zvezda.

34.

C. Walz
D. Bursch

Feb 20, 2002
5 hr, 47 min

Install cables, tighten tank clamps.

35.

S. Smith
R. Walheim

Apr 11, 2002
7 hr, 48 min

Install S0 Truss on Destiny.

36.

J. Ross
L. Morin

Apr 13, 2002
7 hr, 30 min

Install S0 Truss.

37.

S. Smith
R. Walheim

Apr 14, 2002
6 hr, 27 min

Reconfigure Canadarm2 for S0 truss.

38.

J. Ross
L. Morin

Apr 16, 2002
6 hr, 37 min

Install future EVA hardware.

39.

F. Chang-Diaz
P. Perrin

Jun 9, 2002
7 hr, 14 min

Attach Power and Data Grapple Fixture to P6.

40.

F. Chang-Diaz
P. Perrin

Jun 11, 2002
5 hr, 0 min

Attach Mobile Base System to Mobile Transporter.

41.

F. Chang-Diaz
P. Perrin

Jun 13, 2002
7 hr, 17 min

Replace Canadarm2 wrist joint.

42.

V. Korzun
P. Whitson

Aug 16, 2002
4 hr, 23 min

Install Strela boom on Pirs.

43.

V. Korzun
S. Treschev

Aug 26, 2002
5 hr, 21 min

Install EVA hardware on Zarya.

44.

D. Wolf
P. Sellers

Oct 10, 2002
7 hr, 1 min

Install lines between S0 and S1.

45.

D. Wolf
P. Sellers

Oct 12, 2002
6 hr, 4 min

Install future EVA hardware.

46.

D. Wolf
P. Sellers

Oct 14, 2002
6 hr, 36 min

Complete S1 install.

47.

M. Lopez-Alegria
J. Herrington

Nov 26, 2002
6 hr, 45 min

Install P1 truss.

48.

M. Lopez-Alegria
J. Herrington

Nov 28, 2002
6 hr, 10 min

Install TV cameras, move CETA.

49.

M. Lopez-Alegria
J. Herrington

Nov 30, 2002
7 hr, 0 min

Inspect Mobile Transporter.

50.

K. Bowersox
D. Pettit

Jan 15, 2003
6 hr, 51 min

Release P1 truss radiator system.

51.

K. Bowersox
D. Pettit

Apr 8, 2003
6 hr, 26 min

Move cables between S0, S1 and P1.

52.

M. Foale
A. Kaleri

Feb 26, 2004
3 hr, 55 min

Install and remove experiments.

53.

G. Padalka
M. Fincke

Jun 24, 2004
0 hr, 13 min

Cut short due to loss of pressure in Fincke's oxygen tank.

54.

G. Padalka
M. Fincke

Jun 30, 2004
5 hr, 40 min

Service ISS gyroscope.

55.

G. Padalka
M. Fincke

Aug 3, 2004
4 hr, 30 min

Install antennas, replace laser reflectors.

56.

G. Padalka
M. Fincke

Sep 3, 2004
5 hr, 20 min

Install ATV docking antennas.

57.

L. Chiao
S. Sharipov

Jan 26, 2005
5 hr, 28 min

External outfitting of Zvezda.

58.

L. Chiao
S. Sharipov

Mar 28, 2005
5 hr, 6 min

Prepare ISS for ATV, launch of a small Russian satellite.

59.

S. Noguchi
S. Robinson

Jul 30, 2005
6 hr, 50 min

Repair CMG 2.

60.

S. Noguchi
S. Robinson

Aug 1, 2005
6 hr, 30 min

Replace CMG 1.

61.

S. Noguchi
S. Robinson

Aug 3, 2005
6 hr, 1 min

Install amateur radio satellite PCSAT2.

62.

S. Krikalev
J. Phillips

Aug 18, 2005
4 hr, 58 min

Remove Russian materials experiments; install camera.

63.

W. McArthur
V. Tokarev

Nov 7, 2005
5 hr, 22 min

Install P1 camera, Floating Potential Probe jettison, replace remote power controller module on MT.

64.

W. McArthur
V. Tokarev

Feb 3, 2006
5 hr, 43 min

Release SuitSat-1, retrieve experiment, tie off MT umbilical.

65.

P. Vinogradov
J. Williams

Jun 1, 2006
6 hr, 31 min

Repair vent for Elektron, replace camera, retrieve experiment.

66.

P. Sellers
M. Fossum

Jul 8, 2006
7 hr, 32 min

Block MT cutter blade.

67.

P. Sellers
M. Fossum

Jul 10, 2006
6 hr, 47 min

Restore MT rail car to operation, deliver spare pump module.

68.

P. Sellers
M. Fossum

Jul 12, 2006
6 hr, 20 min

Test shuttle repair methods.

69.

J. Williams
T. Reiter

Aug 3, 2006
5 hr, 54 min

Install thermal rotary joint motor controller, replace STR MDM.

70.

J. Tanner
Stefanyshyn-Piper

Sep 12, 2006
5 hr, 26 min

Install P3/4 truss.

71.

D. Burbank
S. MacLean

Sep 13, 2006
7 hr, 11 min

Install P3/4 truss.

72.

J. Tanner
Stefanyshyn-Piper

Sep 15, 2006
6 hr, 42 min

Install radiator on P3/4.

73.

M. Tyurin
M. Lopez-Alegria

Nov 22, 2006
5 hr, 38 min

Install BTN neutron experiment, relocate WAL antenna, inspect Kurs antenna, golf shot.

74.

R. Curbeam
C. Fuglesang

Dec 12, 2006
6 hr, 36 min

Install P5, replace S1 camera.

75.

R. Curbeam
C. Fuglesang

Dec 14, 2006
5 hr, 0 min

Rewire ISS electrical system, circuits 2/3.

76.

R. Curbeam
S. Williams

Dec 16, 2006
7 hr, 31 min

Rewire ISS electrical system, circuits 1/4, retract solar array wing.

77.

R. Curbeam
C. Fuglesang

Dec 18, 2006
6 hr, 38 min

Retract solar array wing.

78.

M. Lopez-Alegria
S. Williams

Jan 31, 2007
7 hr, 55 min

Cooling loop reconfiguration.

79.

M. Lopez-Alegria
S. Williams

Feb 4, 2007
7 hr, 11 min

Cooling loop reconfiguration, connect SSPTS cable; retract P6 starboard radiator; remove EAS connections.

80.

M. Lopez-Alegria
S. Williams

Feb 8, 2007
6 hr, 40 min

Remove thermal shrouds, deploy UCCAS, remove P5 launch locks, connect SSPTS cable.

81.

M. Tyurin
M. Lopez-Alegria

Feb 22, 2007
6 hr, 18 min

Retract Progress antenna; inspection and photography.

82.

F. Yurchkhin
O. Kotov

May 30, 2007
5 hr, 25 min

Install SMDP panel, reroute GPS antenna cable.

83.

F. Yurchkhin
O. Kotov

Jun 06, 2007
5 hr, 37 min

Install Zarya cable, SMDP panel, deploy experiment.

84.

J. Reilly
D. Olivas

Jun 11, 2007
6 hr, 15 min

Install S3/S4 Truss.

85.

P. Forrester
S. Swanson

Jun 13, 2007
7 hr, 16 min

Retract P6 solar array wings, install S3/S4 truss.

86.

J. Reilly
D. Olivas

Jun 15, 2007
7 hr, 58 min

Retract P6 solar array wing, install Destiny hydrogen valve.

87.

P. Forrester
S. Swanson

Jun 17, 2007
6 hr, 29 min

Install solar alpha rotary joint, camera stanchion and network cable, secure debris shield.

88.

C. Anderson
F. Yurchkhin

Jul 23, 2007
7 hr, 41 min

Replace MT power component, jettison ammonia tank and camera stanchion.

89.

R. Mastracchio
D. Williams

Aug 11, 2007
6 hr, 17 min

Install P5 truss, retract P6 radiator.

90.

R. Mastracchio
D. Williams

Aug 13, 2007
6 hr, 28 min

Remove and replace CMG.

91.

R. Mastracchio
C. Anderson

Aug 15, 2007
5 hr, 28 min

Install P1 XPDR, relocate P6 SASA, CETA cart, S-band antenna.

92.

D. Williams
C. Anderson

Aug 18, 2007
5 hr, 2 min

Install OBSS stand, retrieve MISSE, install EWIS antenna, secure Z1 gimbal locks

93.

S. Parazynski
D. Wheelock

Oct 26, 2007
6 hr, 14 min

Install Harmony Node 2, retrieve SASA, disconnect P6/Z1 fluid line.

94.

S. Parazynski
D. Tani

Oct 28, 2007
6 hr, 33 min

Disconnect Z1 umbilical, detach P6, configure S1 radiator, install Node 2 handrails, inspect SARJ.

95.

S. Parazynski
D. Wheelock

Oct 30, 2007
7 hr, 8 min

Relocate P6 to P5, connect P6/P5 umbilicals, inspect SARJ.

96.

S. Parazynski
D. Wheelock

Nov 3, 2007
7 hr, 19 min

Inspect and repair P6 solar array.

97.

P. Whitson
Y. Malenchenko

Nov 9, 2007
6 hr, 55 min

Disconnect SSPTS cable, stow PMA-2, Node 2 avionics umbilicals.

98.

P. Whitson
D. Tani

Nov 20, 2007
7 hr, 16 min

Connect PMA-2/Harmony fluid, electrical, and data lines.

99.

P. Whitson
D. Tani

Nov 24, 2007
7 hr, 4 min

Connect PMA-2/Harmony fluid, electrical, and data lines, inspect SARJ.

100.

P. Whitson
D. Tani

Dec 18, 2007
6 hr, 56 min

Inspect starboard SARJ and BGA.


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