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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nasa astronauts carry out spacewalk to repair pump | Nasa astronauts carry out spacewalk to repair pump |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Astronauts at the International Space Station have completed the first of a series of spacewalks to carry out urgent repairs. | Astronauts at the International Space Station have completed the first of a series of spacewalks to carry out urgent repairs. |
| The two Americans on the crew went outside the station and removed a pump containing a faulty valve. | The two Americans on the crew went outside the station and removed a pump containing a faulty valve. |
| It is the first of three possible spacewalks needed to mend the station's critical cooling system. | It is the first of three possible spacewalks needed to mend the station's critical cooling system. |
| Half of the system automatically shut down last week after detecting abnormal temperatures. | Half of the system automatically shut down last week after detecting abnormal temperatures. |
| Nasa said the situation was potentially serious but not life-threatening. | Nasa said the situation was potentially serious but not life-threatening. |
| The six-man crew had to turn off all non-essential equipment because of the malfunction. | The six-man crew had to turn off all non-essential equipment because of the malfunction. |
| Faulty pump | Faulty pump |
| The two astronauts, Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins, began their spacewalk - 418km (260 miles) above the Earth's surface - at about 12:00 GMT and were outside the space station for nearly six hours. | |
| They disconnected and removed a faulty ammonia pump, which is about the size of a refrigerator. | They disconnected and removed a faulty ammonia pump, which is about the size of a refrigerator. |
| "I got it, I got it, I got it. Barely," Rick Mastracchio exclaimed as he stretched out his hand to retrieve an o-ring which began to float away. | "I got it, I got it, I got it. Barely," Rick Mastracchio exclaimed as he stretched out his hand to retrieve an o-ring which began to float away. |
| The spacewalk was curtailed slightly as he complained of excessive cold in his feet. | The spacewalk was curtailed slightly as he complained of excessive cold in his feet. |
| The astronauts wore absorbent equipment in their space suits to prevent any repeat of the helmet-flooding problem which affected an Italian astronaut earlier this year. | The astronauts wore absorbent equipment in their space suits to prevent any repeat of the helmet-flooding problem which affected an Italian astronaut earlier this year. |
| On their second spacewalk, now scheduled for Tuesday at 12:10 GMT, the two astronauts will install a new pump. | |
| Nasa said that a planned third spacewalk may now not be necessary, because of the success of Saturday's operation. | |
| The fault relates to the external cooling loops that circulate ammonia outside the station to keep both internal and external equipment cool. | The fault relates to the external cooling loops that circulate ammonia outside the station to keep both internal and external equipment cool. |
| Nasa said the repairs would take priority over the launch of a supply ship from Virginia, which has now been postponed until January. | Nasa said the repairs would take priority over the launch of a supply ship from Virginia, which has now been postponed until January. |