Space

DATE=07-17-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=SHUTTLE-SPACE STATION (S)

NUMBER=2-278351

BYLINE=NICO COLOMBANT

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Space shuttle Atlantis astronauts are performing a second spacewalk to work on a newly-installed airlock on the International Space Station. VOA's Nico Colombant reports the mission has been extended one day because of minor technical problems.

TEXT: With the help of a giant robotic arm, the astronauts are installing one oxygen and one nitrogen tank to make the space station's airlock functional.

The excursion follows fruitless efforts to fix a leaky valve designed to regulate the flow of air into the airlock.

Because of this, space officials were forced to extend the Atlantis mission by one day.

But they say the leak is not a threat to the five Atlantis crew members and their three space station colleagues.

A third spacewalk to add two safety canisters on the top of the airlock has been postponed from Thursday to Friday.

assignments.neb-wire

The airlock was installed during an initial spacewalk Sunday. The gateway will allow space station residents to venture and do work in space without the assistance of visiting shuttles. (Signed)

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