Image above: STS-124 crew members Mark Kelly and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI participate in interviews aboard the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA TV

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Astronauts prepare for final spacewalk

The STS-124 and Expedition 17 crew members spent the day outfitting the Japanese Logistics Module (JLM) and preparing Kibo’s robotic systems for initial deployment.

Mission Specialists Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and Karen Nyberg tested Kibo’s robotic arm, most notably the arm’s hold and release mechanism. These tests set the stage for the arm’s initial deployment.

Hoshide and Nyberg also installed additional equipment in the new passageway between the Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) and the JLM.

The crew members took a break from Saturday's activities to speak with Japanese officials and participate in interviews with U.S. media.

Crew members also reviewed procedures to prepare for the third and final spacewalk of the mission.

Before going to sleep, Mission Specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan will enter the station’s Quest airlock for the standard 'camp out,' during which the nitrogen will be purged from their bodies. They are slated to begin the mission’s third spacewalk at 10:32 a.m. EDT Sunday.

The two are scheduled to perform tasks which include replacing a depleted nitrogen tank and the removal of thermal insulation from the Japanese robotic arm and launch locks.

Discovery's stay at the station also saw an exchange of radio hams, with Mission Specialist Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, joining the Expedition 17 crew and trading places with Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, KE5HAE.

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