NASA has scheduled three spacewalks for the STS-122 mission. On flight day 4, Walheim and Schlegel’s main task will be to prepare the Columbus module for installation on Harmony.
They will install the Power Data Grapple Fixture on Columbus, which will allow the space station’s robotic arm to grab the module and move it from the shuttle’s payload bay to Harmony. The spacewalkers also will begin work to remove the Nitrogen Tank Assembly, a part of the station’s thermal control system, from the P1 truss. The assembly needs to be replaced because the nitrogen is running low.
On flight day 6, Walheim and Schlegel will remove the old NTA and temporarily store it on an equipment cart. They will then install the new one. The old NTA will be transferred to the shuttle’s payload bay for return home.
On flight day 8, Walheim and Love will install two payloads on Columbus’ exterior: SOLAR, an observatory to monitor the sun; and the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) that will carry eight different experiments requiring exposure to the space environment. The spacewalkers also will move a failed control moment gyroscope from its storage location on the station to the shuttle’s payload bay for return to Earth.
