ISS crew to repair gyroscope in outer space

The ISS (International Space Station) crew is to perform EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) once again in the early hours of July 1, trying to repair a defective ISS gyroscope; this was disclosed to RIA Novosti June 28 by Valery Lyndin, spokesman for the Russian Mission Control Center.

ISS hatches will be opened at 1.40 a.m. Moscow time, with Gennady Padalka and Michael Fincke subsequently working for six consecutive hours on the ISS external surface, Lyndin noted, adding that both men were expected to return inside at 7.40 a.m. Moscow time.

In his words, the crew will check spacesuits June 28, relaxing June 29.

Padalka and Fincke won't put on their spacesuits, merely checking the operation of all spacesuit systems, Lyndin added.

Specialists determined the causes of the abortive June 25 space walk. Michael Fincke probably didn't turn the injector handle completely, thus causing spacesuit pressure to drop sharply at the beginning of EVA operations. (An injector is a built-in pump, which supplies oxygen from a tank into the spacesuit itself - Ed.)

© &to=http://www.rian.ru' target=_blank>RIAN

Early reports by PRAVDA.Ru:

&to=http://newsfromrussia.com/science/2004/06/25/54566.html' target=_blank>Oxygen loss alarmed international space station crew

&to=http://newsfromrussia.com/science/2004/06/24/54537.html' target=_blank>1st space tourist in Russia again