spacetoday.net: Spacewalkers complete first STS-133 EVA

Posted: Tue, Mar 1, 2011, 6:37 AM ET (1137 GMT)
STS-133: EVA #1 (NASA)

Two astronauts overcame a glitch with the International Space Station's robotic arm to complete a spacewalk on Monday. Steve Bowen and Al Drew spent six hours and 34 minutes outside the station on an EVA that started at 10:34 am EST (1534 GMT). The two moved a failed ammonia pump to an external stowage platform, work that was held up briefly when the controls for the station's robotic arm in the cupola failed, forcing station crewmembers to use a backup control system in another module. Spacewalkers also installed an extension cable between the Unity and Tranquility modules and extended the tracks on the station's truss used by the mobile transporter. After the EVA mission controllers announced that the STS-133 mission would be extended by a day to give crews more time to transfer supplies. On Tuesday astronauts will install the Leonardo cargo module to the station, providing the station with additional storage space.