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CNN Sunday Morning

International Space Station Enters New Era

Aired July 15, 2001 - 09:06   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: In other news, the International Space Station stands at the threshold of a new era this morning; it comes just hours after a pair of space-walking astronauts completed what is being called a doorway to space.

CNN's John Zarella explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARELLA, 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, readying 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, ASTRONAUT: It's like grasping a 12 foot alligator and tying it up with a 20 foot snake.

ZARELLA (voice-over): 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.

UNIDENTIFIED ASTRONAUT: Well, I've got a pretty good self- portrait with my helmet-cam.

ZARELLA (voice-over): 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, flew over Australia.

As Helm's 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 Helm's through the precision maneuver.

Four-and-a-half hours into the walk, the mating was completed. UNIDENTIFIED SPACE PROGRAM SPOKESMAN: The International Space Station now has a doorway to space with the airlock Quest now installed on the common berthing mechanism of the unity module.

ZARELLA (voice-over): 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?

UNIDENTIFIED ASTRONAUT: Getting close, man. Getting close.

UNIDENTIFIED ASTRONAUT: I think we can call it a total victory.

ZARELLA (voice-over): John Zarella, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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