7-Hour Spacewalk Accomplishes Mission

U.S. astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani conducted a 7-hour, 4-minute spacewalk on the International Space Station Saturday to install equipment.

Whitson and Tani transported the station’s 300-pound, 18.5 foot Loop B fluid tray to the port side of the Destiny laboratory module, after disconnecting it from the station’s main truss, NASA.gov reported.

After moving the device, they completed all related fluid and electrical connections.

As Whitson moved on to deploy and mate cables — in preparation for the Station to Shuttle Power Transfer System — Tani inspected the station’s Solar Alpha Rotary Joint.

During its rotations to follow the sun, the rotary joint had shown signs of increased vibration and power consumption, prompting the precautionary inspection.

NASA.gov the pair also installed a portable foot restraint on Node 2, in preparation for future spacewalks at the station following the installation of the European Columbus laboratory.