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CNN Sunday Morning

Astronauts Install an Airlock on the International Space Station

Aired July 15, 2001 - 07:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A pair of space walking astronauts went to work on the International Space Station this morning, completing what one insider called a doorway to space.

CNN's John Zarrella explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four years of preparation paid off for astronauts Jim Reilly and Mike Gernhardt. The two space walkers sailed through the preliminary work, reading Space Station Alpha's new airlock to be lifted out of the shuttle's cargo bay. Gernhardt's assignment called for removing a protective covering, which turned out not to be so easy 250 miles above the Earth.

MIKE GERNHARDT, ATLANTIS ASTRONAUT: It was like wrestling a 12- foot alligator and tying it up with a 20-foot snake.

ZARRELLA: Despite wrestling with the so-called shower cap, the astronauts made up more than an hour of time lost when the space walk got started late. It had taken longer than anticipated to complete pre-walk activities.

During the most tedious part of the space walk, the astronauts were more observers than participants.

GERNHARDT: I get a pretty good self-portrait with my helmet cam.

ZARRELLA: Space station resident astronaut Susan Helms, using Alpha's robot arm, lifted the six-and-a-half ton airlock called Quest from the shuttle's cargo bay. Quest hung in space as the shuttle and station docked together and flew over Australia.

As Helms slowly moved it into position for mating, the space walkers literally hung out on the side of the space station's unity module to guide Helms through the precision maneuver. Four-and-a-half hours into the walk, the mating was completed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The International Space Station now has a doorway to space with the airlock Quest now installed on the common birthing mechanism of the unity module. ZARRELLA: Until now, space walks could only be accomplished when a shuttle was present. With the airlock in place, Gernhardt and Reilly began wrapping up, attaching power and heater cables to bring Quest to life. The first of three scheduled space walks had gone with barely a hitch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys about ready for a cup of coffee?

GERNHARDT: Getting close, man, getting close. I think we can call it a total victory.

ZARRELLA: John Zarrella, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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