Two space shuttle-era spacewalkers enter Astronaut Hall of Fame

Spacewalks are typically designed for two people, but a unique situation required three astronauts to go outside when a capture bar on Intelsat VI could not be obtained. Akers and Tanner performed spacewalks to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, working carefully with delicate optical instruments in confined conditions. Tanner also supported assembly of the International Space Station by helping build the backbone truss and solar array wings. Tanner described the main difference between ISS and HST EVAs as overall physical effort: HST emphasized manual dexterity, while ISS involved moving large, heavy objects and maneuvering over longer distances. Akers conducted nearly 30 hours of spacewalk time, and Tanner logged 46.5 hours across EVAs.

"“All of our spacewalks are designed really for two people; the system really isn't made where it's easy for three people,” Akers told collectSPACE. “That was a unique situation where we couldn't get the capture bar on the Intelsat VI, and the ground [controllers] and our crew came up with the idea of three people going out. With the teamwork and great ground team support, it worked slick.”"

"Akers and Tanner both conducted spacewalks to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), carefully manipulating delicate optical instruments in a closely confined area. Tanner also helped assemble the large backbone truss and solar arrays wings for the International Space Station (ISS)."

"“I have often been asked what is the difference between ISS and an HST EVA [extravehicular activity], and I think it's hands and overall physical effort,” said Tanner. “Manual dexterity in your hands was more important for HST, and for ISS, you're hauling around some pretty big, heavy objects and maneuvering a long way. That's the biggest difference.”"

"In total, Akers spent almost 30 hours of his nearly 34 days in space conducting spacewalks. Tanner logged 43 days, including 46 and a half hours on EVAs. Saturday's ceremony was led by news correspondent John Zarella and included remarks by Curt Brown, Therrin Protze, and Kelvin Manning."

Read at Ars Technica