Sep 11, 2006 9:52 pm US/Central
St. Paul Astronaut Prepares For First Spacewalk
by Bill Hudson
(WCCO)
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Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper spent countless hours training underwater for her first walk in space.
An astronaut from St. Paul got some rest on Monday before her first scheduled spacewalk. In the 10 years leading up to her first ever spacewalk, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper spent countless hours training underwater.
"The spacewalks themselves are six-and-a-half hours, and we train in a pool for six hours," said Stefanyshyn-Piper. "Being in the pool underwater is the closest we can get to weightlessness, being neutrally buoyant."
The former navy diver turned astronaut, will leave the hatch Tuesday on the first of her two scheduled walks in space.
A NASA simulation shows how Stefanyshyn-Piper and her crewmates will deploy then connect a new set of solar collectors to the space station. She was one of few women astronauts chosen for a spacewalk, largely due to the sizing of the expensive suits.
"The suits are as far -- as the upper torso, what we call the hard upper torso, the hut -- are in set sizes. The smallest one is a medium, so just think of it as a men's medium T-shirt or sweatshirt," said Stefanyshyn-Piper.
Three days after her first walk, Stefanyshyn-Piper will venture out again to repair one of the station's satellite dishes. Her spacewalk partner and Atlantis crewmate Joe Tanner gave Stefanyshyn-Piper high praise for her dedication and skills.
"She is, in my opinion, one of the best we have flown or unflown. I'll stack her against anybody," said Tanner. "You will see her again."
"Hopefully my next space flight won't be 10 years from now," said Stefanyshyn-Piper.
Each of the shuttle's crew is allowed to take a few small personal items with them in space. Stefanyshyn-Piper said she has family photos, some Cretin-Derham Hall mementos and a banner from her ROTC unit with her.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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