Thursday, November 20, 2008

Live in Orbit: Carts Get New Parking Spots

The first job for two Endeavour spacewalkers is to move two carts from the right side of the station's main truss to the left side.

Called Crew and Equipment and Translation Aid (CETA) carts, they are used to move equipment along rails traversing the station backone, which measures nearly 300 feet.

The carts must be relocated so they don't interfere with the installation of a final truss segment carrying the last set of massive American solar wings for the station's right side. That mission by shuttle Discovery is tentatively targeted for mid-February.

Spacewalker Shane Kimbrough will move the carts while riding a station robotic arm controlled from inside the station by mission specialist Don Pettit.

Once parked in the right place, Stefanyshyn-Piper will lock them into place.

Wondering which spacewalker is which?

Stefanyshyn-Piper's spacesuit legs have solid red stripes on them, while Kimbrough's has broken red stripes. Stefanyshyn-Piper's helmet camera shows No. 16 in the bottom right of the screen, while Kimbrough's shows No. 18.

Kimbrough will soon attach a fixture to the station's robotic arm that will help him move the carts. Then he'll ride the arm to the opposite end of the station.

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