For the third time in 10 days, NASA astronauts Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson plan to float outside the International Space Station on Monday morning to continue repairing its cooling system. During two previous spacewalks on Aug. 7 and Aug. 11, the astronauts removed a pump module that failed and forced the station's six residents to power down a number of systems and postpone science research.
On Monday, they hope to install a spare pump module so the affected coolant loop can be reactivated. The loop, called Loop A, serves the starboard side of the station's U.S. segment by transporting heat generated by electrical systems through radiators.
NASA hopes a successful installation will have Loop a fully operational by Thursday, after some time to test it and reconfigure systems now supported by the other loop.
If time allows, Wheelock and Caldwell Dyson will finish off with a task needed to prepare for Discovery's planned visit in November.
Tonight, following standard pre-spacewalk procedures, the spacewalkers are sleeping in the Quest airlock at a reduced pressure to help purge nitrogen from their systems and avoid decompression sickness.
Monday's spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 6:55 a.m. EDT, with live NASA TV coverage starting at 6 a.m. You can follow along here by clicking on the NASA TV video player at right and checking in for updates.
The spacewalk will be the sixth for Wheelock, third for Caldwell Dyson and the 150th supporting assembly and maintenance of the station.
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