Who wants to watch two male astronauts do a spacewalk with me?
Every time they open a bag and have to dig out a cable, it looks like they are fighting a living tentacled thing.
As annoying as it is to pull out an extension cord from a box of them at home, you don't realize how much gravity was helping with that process.
As annoying as it is to pull out an extension cord from a box of them at home, you don't realize how much gravity was helping with that process.
ORU bag is Orbital Replacement Unit.
A gap spanner is basically a cloth tether that is intended to span the gap between two permanent handrails.
"Taking the crewlock bag and bundling it to the APFR"
That's basically, "take the workbag that's got all the stuff and tie it to the foot restraint so that it's there for you later."
You have to lash stuff down otherwise they might swing about and damage things.
That's basically, "take the workbag that's got all the stuff and tie it to the foot restraint so that it's there for you later."
You have to lash stuff down otherwise they might swing about and damage things.
"You can release the RET"
Retractible Equipment Tether - It's like a nylon strap and retractible dog leash, with carabiners on both ends. In space.
RET can be used as a noun or verb.
Retractible Equipment Tether - It's like a nylon strap and retractible dog leash, with carabiners on both ends. In space.
RET can be used as a noun or verb.
"6-inch wobble socket"
I have no idea what this is, and this part of why I watch these things.
I have no idea what this is, and this part of why I watch these things.
Turns out a wobble socket is a fairly standard tool that I've actually used, and didn't know that's what it was called. It isn't a neat space thing, except that theirs is in space. 
One of the things to note is shape that their hand makes when they are inactive. The gloves are built to be in that position.
Without careful engineering, the fingers would be straight, like blowing up a rubber glove.
Without careful engineering, the fingers would be straight, like blowing up a rubber glove.
Because of that pressure, suit engineers have to make a choice. Do they build the gloves so they are closed, which makes gripping easier but you have to work to open farther, or do they build them so that the gloves are open and you have to work to grip?
"You're headed to WIF 29 on the 3 Bravo Side"
WIF = Worksite Interface Fixture, which is a big socket in the ISS that you can plug things into at your worksite.
WIF = Worksite Interface Fixture, which is a big socket in the ISS that you can plug things into at your worksite.
Ooh. Really good views of the APFR going into the WIF.
He just did a pull/twist test, which is exactly what it sounds like.
He just did a pull/twist test, which is exactly what it sounds like.
I am absolutely "Grapple shaft" for some of Elma's future astronaughty space innuendo.
A PGT is a pistol grip tool aka a drill.
What he's just saying is that it was supposed to be on Alpha setting and somehow it was on Bravo, so doing a different amount of torque that it was supposed to.
When they are working, look at how slowly the drill spins.
What he's just saying is that it was supposed to be on Alpha setting and somehow it was on Bravo, so doing a different amount of torque that it was supposed to.
When they are working, look at how slowly the drill spins.
A really fast drill with a huge amount of torque would spin the astronaut. Even this way, they have to brace themselves with their free hand.
It's hard to tell how long you've been on a spacewalk without good external cues.
Rather than making them ask, CAPCOMs will periodically give a time check, both how long they've been out and how long they have left.
Rather than making them ask, CAPCOMs will periodically give a time check, both how long they've been out and how long they have left.
Caution: There's potential MMOD strike on handrail 10
When you have a Micrometeorite and Orbital Debris strike, what happens is the metal sticks up in little knifelike blades around the strike zone.
If you're about to grab it, this...not good.
When you have a Micrometeorite and Orbital Debris strike, what happens is the metal sticks up in little knifelike blades around the strike zone.
If you're about to grab it, this...not good.
Random trivia: From testing the Apollo suits for micrometeorite strikes, we know that they could stop an 8mm bullet.
How to tell that I'm a puppeteer: Oooo! Look at how crisp and focused the shadows are.
Because the sun is a giant single point light source.
Because the sun is a giant single point light source.
They* just brought Jasmine (the CAPCOM) a replica of the piece that he's trying to remove so that she can give better information to him.
*They, in this case, is a "backroom" of people who are also listening and problem-solving. The CAPCOM filters all of that and sends it up.
*They, in this case, is a "backroom" of people who are also listening and problem-solving. The CAPCOM filters all of that and sends it up.
It sounds like he's needing to partially disassemble the thing in ways that it isn't designed to be taken apart in space. This is, by the way, an advantage to human exploration -- we can improvise and adapt.
Watching the folks in Mission Control maintain 6' distances or don masks as they approach someone is fascinating.
"Bag switcheroo" is a highly technical term.
Nice view of using a wire tie, which really is just like the wire ties on a bag of bread, except bigger and in space.
This is from an older EVA, but it gives you an idea of the sort of prep they do and also let's you read through a selection of cautions.
nasa.gov/sites/default/…
nasa.gov/sites/default/…
Also a reminder to follow twitter.com/planet4589 who does great technical commentary on spacewalks.
The reason to ask how much daylight they have is that it helps evaluate how difficult it will be do to a task in the remaining time. This is a fifteen-minute task, and twenty-six minutes of daylight.
The crew is heading in, having successfully accomplished their tasks, plus some "get-aheads" which will set them up nicely for the next spacewalk.
This was the third all-male spacewalk this year and I think these fellows did a swell job.
