Space Station AC Still on the Fritz After 8-Hour Spacewalk

Usually, a hitch encountered while fixing an air conditioner doesn't make the news--except when that AC orbits 220 miles above the earth, requires astronaut mechanics, and remains inoperable after the sixth longest spacewalk in history. Last week, we discussed a broken ammonia cooling loop--one of two keeping the International Space Station air-conditioned and habitable. Though the second loop is keeping the six astronauts aboard comfortable, they prefer to be more than mishap away from a 500 degree Fahrenheit temperature difference across their orbiting laboratory. Now, following Saturday's eight-hour spacewalk, the cooling loop is closer to repair but will require two additional walks. The next will occur no earlier than Wednesday, a NASA press release says. NASA had announced previously that the repair would take multiple walks. The astronauts originally planned to remove four coolant lines on Saturday, a necessary step before removing and replacing a broken pump. This spacewalk ran ...