Aside from some trash that was dropped during maneuvers (and which NASA has to track all the way back to Earths atmosphere), the crews two long space walks have gone smoothly. But they are only two of hundreds that will be needed before the ISS is fully assembled, and the projects many critics point out that a mishap - possibly a deadly one - is only a matter of time. NASA just keeps its fingers crossed; thats what they said about the Mirs many dangerous repair missions, and, well, so far so good. The astronauts remain eager; in space, no one can hear you whine.
The Space Station Is Open for Business
ORBIT: At 2:45 p.m. Thursday afternoon, the four astronauts floating in and
around the space shuttle Endeavour will pull out a bag of freeze-dried
bubbly and declare the big, expensive, oft-assailed and yet still
awe-inspiring International Space Station officially open for business. In
a seven-hour space walk completed Wednesday night, the Endeavour crew
installed some rudimentary phones, fixed an antenna and removed the hatch
covers from the Unity passageway module - a ceremonial act that means the
International Space Station is now more than the sum of its two current
parts.