Astronauts take 2nd spacewalk to hook up plumbing

Sunday, February 14, 2010
CAPE CANAVERAL: Two astronauts are spacewalking again outside the International Space Station.

Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick floated out Saturday night on their second spacewalk in three days. This time, they will hook up the plumbing for the space station's new room, Tranquility.

When ammonia coolant is flowing through the hoses, Tranquility will be brought alive with power. Its systems cannot be turned on unless there is a way to get rid of the equipment-generated heat.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew, meanwhile, will get to spend an extra day at the orbiting outpost. Mission managers on Saturday added a 14th day to the mission. That will give the astronauts time to move water-recycling machines into Tranquility.

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