Spacewalk Preps Slowed By Faulty Seal

Two of Discovery's astronauts are suited up for their second spacewalk in three days, but it looks like the excursion outside the International Space Station will be starting a little late.

Trouble with a leaky bottle of lithium hydroxide has put the astronauts about 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule. The spacewalk is slated to begin at 10:18 a.m. but more likely will commence between 10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Lithium hydroxide is used to scrub carbon dioxide from the spacesuits that Discovery mission specialists Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew are wearing. A bottle in Bowen's suit failed a leak check. A small, cracked O-ring was discovered and replaced.