Spacewalking Astronauts Fix Hubble Gyroscopes

Astronauts from the shuttle Atlantis headed out for another spacewalk today, this time to give the Hubble telescope some new gyroscopes and batteries. The gyroscopes—a top priority—are part of the telescope pointing system, and half of the old ones are broken. The two space walkers ventured out as the shuttle and telescope sailed 350 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. "It is a beautiful day outside," one said.

Astronaut Michael Massimino had a brief scare when his communication system fouled up and no one could hear him for a minute or two. "That was scary," said one of the astronauts inside. It was the second spacewalk in as many days for the Atlantis astronauts. Yesterday a two-man team installed a new camera and computer data unit. In all, five spacewalks are planned.
(More spacewalk stories.)