Successful first Atlantis spacewalk is over

The first of three spacewalks planned during Atlantis' 11-day mission to the International Space Station is officially in the books.

Mike Foreman and Bobby Satcher began their work at 9:24 a.m. EST and finished at 4:01 p.m. EST -- six hours, 37 minutes later.

That's just a few minutes over the planned duration for the spacewalk, and it accomplished more tasks than were initially scheduled.

The station's Quest airlock is now being re-pressurized to roughly sea-level air pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch.

Atlantis commander Charlie Hobaugh, pilot Barry Wilmore and mission specialist Nicole Stott are standing by to help the spacewalkers out of their spacesuits.

The spacewalk was the 228th ever by U.S spacewalkers and the 134th supporting station assembly and construction, work that now totals 837 hours, 28 minutes.

It Foreman's fourth career spacewalk; his total spacewalking time is now 26 hours, 11 minutes. It was Satcher's first excursion.