Rookie spacewalker Douglas Wheelock took a ride on the end of a Canadian-built robot arm today as he and partner Scott Parazynski retrieved a broken radio antenna and stowed it in Discovery's cargo bay.
Working side by side on a girder-like truss that towers above the U.S. Unity module, the astronauts unbolted the 228-pound S-Band Antenna Structural Assembly -- or SASA -- with a pistol-grip power tool.
Wheelock then stepped into a foot restraint on the end of the station's 57-foot robot arm. Then crane operators Stephanie Wilson and Dan Tani carefully maneuvered Wheelock down into the shuttle's cargo bay so the antenna could be stowed for a return to Earth.
"Thanks for the ride," Wheelock said after the antenna was locked down.
"No problem," Tani said. "You guys look great out there."
Click to enlarge and save the series of NASA TV screen shots that show Wheelock and the antenna being lowered into Discovery's cargo bay:
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