Astronauts complete third spacewalk at space station

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Astronauts from the Discovery shuttle completed the third spacewalk of the mission Sunday, putting more finishing touches on Japan's Kibo science lab and replacing an empty nitrogen tank.

In another trouble-free day of the mission, Ron Garan and Mike Fossum checked off a list of maintenance tasks large and small over six hours and 33 minutes outside the orbiting space station, heading back inside at 2028 GMT.

In the most dramatic moment of the walk, Garan -- his feet locked into the end of the ISS's massive Canadarm robotic arm like a puppet at the end of a rod -- was slowly swept from one side of the ISS to the other, carrying a 239 kilogram (528 pound) depleted nitrogen tank in his arms.

"Light as a feather, huh?" Garan said as the arm,...