Historic walk 220 miles up

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 6, 2005

Millions throughout the world watched as Stephen Robinson, the Discovery crew member who plucked two pieces of ceramic fabric stuck between tiles of the orbiting space craft, made his historic space walk. His task would have been simple on Earth, but not 220 miles above the planet.

Tethered to a mechanical arm protruding from the orbiting International Space Station, Sacramento native Robinson was guided to the underbelly of Discovery, where he removed two strips of fabric protruding between the spacecraft's heat resistant tiles. When he started he was over Massachusetts. By the time he finished, 10 minutes later, the ship was above the French coast.

Robinson and his crewmates performed with a steadiness and humor that understated the seriousness of their mission. Discovery is the first American spacecraft to go into orbit since the disastrous flight of Columbia two years ago and the death of its seven crew members. Foam insulation that broke off during launch of that doomed space shuttle damaged a wing, which led to its breakup and disintegration when it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

Before Discovery was launched, NASA engineers thought they had that problem solved. The ceramic fabric found protruding from Discovery's belly was a new issue they had not anticipated. While the damage Discovery sustained was less serious than the damage that led to the breakup of Columbia, Robinson's repair was intended to prevent another such disaster.

NASA officials mulled and then rejected another spacewalk to repair a thermal insulation blanket that came loose during Discovery's launch. Much time and effort will be spent investigating the cause of the problem that prompted Robinson's space repair. That's appropriate. But the hard work of getting Discovery safely back remains.

Robinson and his crewmates are scheduled to return on Monday where a hero's welcome awaits. Good luck and Godspeed. [Fresno Bee-- Editorial--