Morbid Maneuvers

Valentines Day, February 14, 2001 marked the 100th spacewalk in American history. The mood after the spacewalk was celebratory. The walk itself was down right strange.

The Atlantis crew, after a busy week in space, completed its third spacewalk of the planned ten-day mission last Wednesday. The previous two walks revolved around successfully attaching the Destiny module to the International Space Station (ISS) and affixing a special bracket where a robotic arm will be installed on a later mission. This third and final spacewalk practiced maneuvers that taught future astronauts how to rescue a dead or incapacitated astronaut in the harsh environment of space.

Astronauts Robert Curbeam Jr. and Thomas Jones play acted as each floated motionless while the other attempted a rescue in a series of maneuvers. Having astronauts enter the space environment on such spacewalks is a serious and extremely dangerous procedure. These tests, which risked lives and used expensive mission time, show how serious NASA is about being prepared for any unforeseeable emergencies. Emergencies such as an astronaut's suit de-pressurizing, an astronaut becoming nauseous, asphyxiated or unconscious, or any myriad of technical malfunctions that could occur while on a spacewalk could kill can astronaut or render him or her immobile. The two astronauts spent 5 1/2 hours testing the various maneuvers in the shuttle’s cargo bay. They gained valuable information on how to save astronauts if the unthinkable ever occurred.

Both astronauts agreed that the best method for rescuing a fellow astronaut was by pulling him or her behind on a line joined by safety tethers. Since humans now continuously live on the ISS, rescue capability is on the minds of many NASA planners.

After Curbeam and Jones completed the 100th spacewalk in American history, the crew of Atlantis paid a special tribute to fellow spacewalker Ed White II. White was the first American to leave the relative safety of his spacecraft for the naked and unforgiving climate of space. However, Russian Alexei Leonov was the first human being to attempt such an accomplishment in March of 1965. A few months later in June, White floated in space for 21 minutes doubling Leonov’s previous time outside of a spacecraft. Because White used a small gun that fired propellant to maneuver, he became the first self-propelled astronaut. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that Mission Control became nervous when he said he wanted to stay outside longer. Ed White II died in the Apollo 1 fire in 1967, but remains a shining symbol of American bravery.

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