02/14/10: Nicholas Patrick's suit contamminated by ammonia, but spacewalk is going well.

Mission: STS-130

Orbiter: Endeavour

Launch Pad: 39A

Launch Date: Feb 8, 2010, 04:14 EST (09:14 UT)

Landing: Shuttle Landing Facility, Kennedy Space Center; Feb 21, 22:20 EST/03:20 UT Feb 22 (deorbit burn: 21:15 EST)

Main gear touchdown: 22:20:31 EST

Nose gear touchdown: 21:20:39 EST

Wheels stop: 22:22:10 EST

Orbital Altitude: 122 nautical miles (140 miles)

Orbital Insertion: 191 nautical miles (220 miles)

Orbital Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Distance traveled: ~5.7 million miles

Crew:- Commander: George D. "Zambo" Zamka; Pilot: Terry Virts; Mission Specialists:- MS1 Kathryn P. "Kay" Hire, MS2 Stephen Robinson, MS3 Nicholas Patrick, MS4 Robert L. Behnken.

Primary Payload: Tranquility (Node 3) and Cupola.
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We are over two hours into the mission's second spacewalk, which is proceeding well. After Nicholas Patrick removed a quick disconnect cap, a small amount of ammonia crystals was observed. Based on conservative flight rules, Patrick's suit is considered contaminated, although Patrick reported that he could not see any crystals on his suit. If crystals are discerned, Patrick will try and wipe them off before reentering the airlock. As a precaution, the astronauts will spend additional time in the airlock to allow for any possible flakes to be cleansed from their suits through the airlock environmental system. Inside the station, astronauts have completed the installation of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) in the Tranquility node. Bob Behnken and Nicholas Patrick during the second spacewalk of STS-130. Image credit: NASA TV

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