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Astronauts on ISS spacewalk Astronauts on ISS spacewalk
(9 minutes later)
Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis are carrying out the mission's first spacewalk. Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis are carrying out a spacewalk to help install Europe's Columbus laboratory on the space station.
The spacewalk was originally scheduled for Sunday, but had to be delayed by 24 hours after European crew member Hans Schlegel was taken ill. The outing was originally scheduled for Sunday, but had to be delayed by 24 hours after European crew member Hans Schlegel was taken ill.
Mr Schlegel was supposed to venture out into space with US astronaut Rex Walheim, but he had to be replaced. Mr Schlegel was replaced by astronaut Stan Love, who ventured into space with his American colleague Rex Walheim.
Atlantis, which docked with the ISS on Saturday, was delivering Europe's Columbus science laboratory. Atlantis docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday.
Mr Schlegel was pulled from the job on Saturday because of illness. The US space agency (Nasa) has refused to elaborate on what was ailing German astronaut Hans Schlegel, but said it was not life-threatening. The US space agency (Nasa) has refused to elaborate on what was ailing German astronaut Hans Schlegel, but said it was not life-threatening.
Nasa's website said that the medical issue would have "no impact to the overall mission objectives". Atlantis crew member Stan Love has stepped in for Mr Schlegel on Monday's spacewalk. Nasa's website said that the medical issue would have "no impact to the overall mission objectives".
Schlegel is expected to take part in the second spacewalk of the mission on Wednesday.
The primary purpose of the spacewalk, which began shortly after 1430 GMT (0930 EST), is to help install the European space laboratory, Columbus.
Mr Schlegel will now be replaced on Monday's spacewalk"Welcome to spacewalking buddy," Mr Walheim said as Love made his way through the hatch for his first spacewalk.Mr Schlegel will now be replaced on Monday's spacewalk"Welcome to spacewalking buddy," Mr Walheim said as Love made his way through the hatch for his first spacewalk.
"It's awesome," Love replied."It's awesome," Love replied.
Schlegel was said to be looking and sounding well on Sunday, and was expected to take part in the second spacewalk of the mission on Wednesday.
The primary purpose of the spacewalk, which began shortly after 1430 GMT (0930 EST), is to help install the European space laboratory, Columbus.
Columbus cost about $2bn (£1bn) and has room for three researchers in fields ranging from crop breeding to the development of advanced alloys.Columbus cost about $2bn (£1bn) and has room for three researchers in fields ranging from crop breeding to the development of advanced alloys.
The lab is the first part of the ISS that the European Space Agency (Esa) will control. Installation will now start on Monday.The lab is the first part of the ISS that the European Space Agency (Esa) will control. Installation will now start on Monday.
Routine inspectionRoutine inspection
Before docking, the crew guided Atlantis in a back-flip manoeuvre that allowed crew on the space station to photograph the shuttle's protective heat-resistant tiles.Before docking, the crew guided Atlantis in a back-flip manoeuvre that allowed crew on the space station to photograph the shuttle's protective heat-resistant tiles.
COLUMBUS FACTS Total length - 6.8mDiameter - 4.5mVolume - 75 cu mLaunch mass - 12.8tOperation - 3 crewCabin temp - 16-27CTotal power - 20kW Columbus: Sky-high science Building Columbus Installing Columbus Inside Columbus Engineers on Earth will check the images for any possible damage that may have been done to the tiles during lift-off.COLUMBUS FACTS Total length - 6.8mDiameter - 4.5mVolume - 75 cu mLaunch mass - 12.8tOperation - 3 crewCabin temp - 16-27CTotal power - 20kW Columbus: Sky-high science Building Columbus Installing Columbus Inside Columbus Engineers on Earth will check the images for any possible damage that may have been done to the tiles during lift-off.
This became a routine safety measure after the shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entering the Earth's atmosphere in 2003.This became a routine safety measure after the shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entering the Earth's atmosphere in 2003.
The 7m-long (24ft), 4.5m-wide (14ft), 12.8-tonne laboratory will be manoeuvred into position by the shuttle's robotic arm, and docked to the station's Harmony Node 2 connector.The 7m-long (24ft), 4.5m-wide (14ft), 12.8-tonne laboratory will be manoeuvred into position by the shuttle's robotic arm, and docked to the station's Harmony Node 2 connector.
Esa astronaut Leopold Eyharts will be staying on the station to commission Columbus, a process that should take a few weeks to complete.Esa astronaut Leopold Eyharts will be staying on the station to commission Columbus, a process that should take a few weeks to complete.
Its installation will mean Esa becomes a full member of the orbital project.Its installation will mean Esa becomes a full member of the orbital project.
Atlantis was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, and is due to return to Earth now on 19 February, a day's extension to the originally planned 11-day mission.Atlantis was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, and is due to return to Earth now on 19 February, a day's extension to the originally planned 11-day mission.
Once the lab is in place, an intensive programme of research in weightless surroundings will begin.Once the lab is in place, an intensive programme of research in weightless surroundings will begin.
The experiments will also help researchers better understand the physiological demands of long-duration spaceflight, something that will be important if humans are ever to colonise the Moon or travel to Mars.The experiments will also help researchers better understand the physiological demands of long-duration spaceflight, something that will be important if humans are ever to colonise the Moon or travel to Mars.