Connector confusion delays mission.
Slightly more than halfway through the spacewalk, Rex Walheim and Stan Love were about 40 minutes behind schedule.
Apparent confusion and difficulty placing connectors on the grapple fixture delayed the spacewalkers. Love took Hans Schlegel's place on the spacewalk when the German astronaut became ill. Schlegel helped supervise the operation.
The pair has installed the power data grapple fixture and had trouble attaching power cables that will heat the Columbus module while it is moved to the ISS' Harmony module.
"They're just trying to make sure (the cables are) in a good configuration," said a NASA commentator.
The 102nd spacewalk to build the ISS began at 9:13 a.m. EST and will last 6.5 hours.
Walheim wears a spacesuit with solid red bands. His helmet camera is No. 16. Love's suit has broken red stripes. His helmet camera is No. 18.
Later today, the pair will prepare a nitrogen tank for installation on the ISS during Wednesday's spacewalk.
Also today, the Columbus module will be moved by the station robot arm to its berth on the space station, where it will be attached with motorized bolts. The laboratory will be opened Tuesday.
Click for STS-122 fact sheet.
Click here for the flight day 5 execute package.
Click here for the NASA-TV schedule, which details mission events.
Spacewalkers: Walheim (left) and Love
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