NASA astronauts installed a spare cooling pump module on the International Space Station (ISS) during their third contingency spacewalk which lasted more than seven hours, NASA said on its website.
The spacewalk, conducted by Flight Engineers Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson lasted about an hour longer than expected. It took astronauts 7 hours, 20 minutes to install the 780-pound spare pump module.
"The module was successfully installed on the S1 Truss after Wheelock attached four bolts and Caldwell Dyson mated five electrical connectors," NASA said.
"Ground controllers confirmed the module was in healthy condition when it began receiving power. After a pressure check and more fluid cable connections, the module was filled with ammonia," the statement reads.
One of two cooling systems serving the ISS broke down late on July 31, and the crew had shut down several pieces of equipment, including two of the station's four gyroscopes, to cut the heat generated on board.
The first repair spacewalk took place on August 7 and lasted a record 8 hours, 3 minutes. The second spacewalk, to remove the failed ammonia coolant pump module, was conducted last Wednesday and lasted 7 hours, 26 minutes.
Monday's spacewalk was 150th in the ISS history, sixth for Wheelock and third for Caldwell Dyson.
MOSCOW, August 17 (RIA Novosti)
