A potentially significant communications problem has been solved at the International Space Station, clearing the way for two spacewalkers to proceed with a risky repair job outside the outpost.
Station commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani lost communications with Mission Control in Houston for about a half-hour. They could communicate with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko inside the station, and Malenchenko could talk with Mission Control. But the spacewalkers could not hear calls from Mission Control.
The spacewalkers were given an OK to finish up all prep work prior to the planned removal and replacement of a solar wing motor drive near the starboard end of the station's central truss. However, the astronauts were told not to proceed with the repair work until communications could be regained.
The communications officer in Mission Control solved the problem by switching to a back-up S-band communications circuit. Engineers continue to troubleshoot the problem with the prime communications circuit.
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