The bright sun greets the International Space Station in this Nov. 22 image, taken from the Russian section of the orbital outpost and photographed by the STS-129 crew. The 11-day STS-129 mission installed a number of station upgrades and prepared the station for the installation of Node 3, which is slated for another mission. (Photo source: NASA) Photo Gallery>>>

Atlantis astronauts complete third spacewalk of mission

Spacewalkers Robert L. Satcher, Jr. (L) and Randy Bresnik work side by side during their spacewalk outside the International Space Station in this image from NASA TV November 23, 2009. The spacewalkers are slated to transfer an oxygen filled High Pressure Gas Tank (HPGT) from the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 2, located on the starboard truss, to a spot on the outside of the Quest Airlock. The tank will be used to replenish atmosphere lost when spacewalkers enter and exit the station. They will also install the seventh Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE 7, which has the capability to use power from the ISS to transmit experiment data directly to Earth.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. astronauts Randolph Bresnik and Robert Satcher Jr. completed a five hour, 42 minute spacewalk at 2:06 p.m. EST (1906 GMT) on Monday, which is the third and final spacewalk for space shuttle Atlantis's STS-129 mission, NASA said.

    During the spacewalk, the pair transferred an oxygen filled High Pressure Gas Tank (HPGT) from the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 2,located on the starboard truss, to a spot on the outside of the Quest Airlock. The tank, which measures 5 feet by 6.2 feet by 4.5 feet and weights approximately 1,240 pounds, will be used to replenish atmosphere lost when spacewalkers enter and exit the station.  Full story

Atlantis astronauts complete second spacewalk of mission

In this image from NASA TV Space Shuttle Atlantis mission specialist Randy Bresnik works outside the International Space Station during the second spacewalk of the STS-129 mission in this view from the helmet camera of fellow spacewalker Mike Foreman November 21, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. astronauts Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik wrapped up the second space walk for space shuttle Atlantis's STS-129 mission on Saturday, NASA said.

    The start of the space walk, which lasted six hours and eight minutes, was a little later than planned, about 9:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT), because a false depressurization alarm had sounded on the station at 9:53 p.m. Friday (2:53 a.m. GMT Saturday), interrupting the crews' sleep and the space walkers' campout in the Quest airlock. The space walkers completed the process of reducing the nitrogen in their blood by exercising while breathing oxygen. Full story

Two Atlantis astronauts install ISS antenna in first spacewalk

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. astronauts conducted the first spacewalk for space shuttle Atlantis and installed an antenna on the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday, NASA said. 

Astronaut Mike Foreman works in the Atlantis' payload bay at the beginning of his spacewalk in this image from NASA TV November 19, 2009. The spacewalkers are slated to perform maintenance tasks outside the station including installing a spare communications antenna, routing cables and lubricating parts of the mobile base system and Kibo robotic arm. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    According to NASA, mission specialists Michael Foreman and Dr. Robert Satcher Jr. began the spacewalk at 9:24 a.m. EDT (1424 GMT),which lasted six hours and 37 minutes. Full story