Astronauts Make Second Spacewalk To Repair Space Station

NASA has a new plan of attack to get the International Space Station back to full cooling.

Expedition 24 Flight Engineers Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, who is a graduate of Beaumont High School, spent Tuesday completing preparations for their second spacewalk Wednesday out of the Quest airlock to replace the failed ammonia coolant pump module.

Click here for live coverage of the spacewalk from NASA TV

A jammed connector and ammonia leak prevented them from removing it Saturday. Until the pump is replaced, the space station has to limp along on only half its cooling power. The system keeps electronic equipment from overheating.

NASA managers decided to begin Wednesday’s spacewalk one hour later than originally planned. The additional time will allow teams to fine-tune robotic procedures and get some extra rest.

The spacewalk is now planned to begin at 4 a.m. Pacific Time.

If the bathtub-sized pump is removed Wednesday, a spare would be installed during a third spacewalk Sunday.

The breakdown occurred more than a week ago.