Live In Orbit: Spacewalk Preps On Track

The Endeavour astronauts are back on track with preparations for a fourth and final spacewalk of their mission to the International Space Station, and the excursion could begin as much as a half-hour ahead of schedule.

Shuttle skipper Chris Ferguson finally resolved a problem latching together the hard upper torso and the soft lower torso of the spacesuit being worn by Shane Kimbrough, and at last check, spacewalk preparations were running about 27 minutes ahead of schedule.

Ferguson is in the U.S. Quest airlock at the station, helping Kimbrough and colleague Steve Bowen don spacesuits in advance of the walk. Crewmate Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper is helping out, too.

You can check out the crew's detailed timeline and messages from Mission Control here: Flight Day 11 Execute Package.

The timing of all major mission milestones are list in this latest revision -- Rev I -- of the STS-126: NASA TV Schedule..

ABOUT THE IMAGE: Click to enlarge and save the NASA TV screen grab of the tail end of shuttle Endeavour as seen from cameras on the International Space Station. A cloud-covered planet Earth serves as a spectacular backdrop.