Atlantis astronauts take 2nd spacewalk of mission

In this video frame grab taken from NASA television, space shuttle Atlantis Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik works during the the second spacewalk of the mission.

Tools

Story Published: Nov 21, 2009 at 12:03 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2009 at 12:03 PM MDT

By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A spacewalking astronaut put aside the impending birth of his daughter and concentrated instead on his first-ever venture outside the International Space Station on Saturday.

Atlantis crewman Randolph Bresnik was mightily impressed as he installed a pair of antennas.

"Other than seeing my wife for the first time, I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful face," Bresnik said, gazing down at Earth 220 miles below. "This is amazing."

Bresnik's wife, Rebecca, was back home in Houston, due to give birth to their second child at any moment. They also have a 3-year-old son, adopted from Ukraine.

The delivery had been planned for Friday, but the baby had yet to arrive when the second spacewalk of the weeklong mission started Saturday morning. The astronauts agreed with Mission Control to hold off on any news if the birth occurred during the spacewalk.

Everyone wanted Bresnik, a 42-year-old Marine, focused on the spacewalk because of the extra risk posed by working outside.

Bresnik and his veteran spacewalking partner, Michael Foreman, got off to a late but fast start, bolting down antenna equipment and relocating a monitor for electrical hazards. They were an hour ahead at one point.

The spacewalk was delayed more than an hour by false decompression alarms that rang through the orbiting complex late Friday, for the second night in a row. The high-pitched beeps - emanating from a new Russian research chamber - triggered a series of smoke alarms. The racket woke up the astronauts and disrupted spacewalk preparations.

Right before the spacewalk, the combined crews attached a giant platform full of spare parts to the exterior of the space station, using robot arms. It was the second such shelf to be installed this week. Atlantis hauled up nearly 15 tons of equipment to keep the outpost running long after the shuttles' retirement next year.

One more spacewalk is planned on Monday. The shuttle will remain at the station until the day before Thanksgiving. Landing would be the day after.

More national news

Current Weather

Current Temp 43.0 °F

Fair

Video

More Weather

Current Weather

More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.