Posted: Fri, Sep 4, 2009, 8:08 AM ET (1208 GMT)
Two astronauts installed a new ammonia coolant tank outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk Thursday evening. Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang spent six hours and 39 minutes outside the ISS on the EVA, which ended at 12:51 am EDT (0451 GMT) Friday. The two achieved their primary task of installing a new tank of ammonia on the station to support its cooling system, replacing a depleted tank that Olivas and Nicole Stott replaced on an EVA Tuesday evening. The spacewalkers bolted the old tank into place in the shuttle Discovery's cargo bay for return to Earth and also performed a number of get-ahead tasks, such as installing protective lens covers and a portable foot restraint. The spacewalk took place as scheduled after mission controllers determined that the shuttle and station didn't need to maneuver to avoid an Ariane 5 rocket stage expected to pass several kilometers from the station.
