Reisman, Bowen Complete First STS-132 Spacewalk

Reisman, Bowen Complete First STS-132 Spacewalk

Astronauts Garrett Reisman and Steve Bowen completed a seven hour, 25 minute spacewalk at 3:19 p.m. EDT.

The new space-to-ground antenna they installed will increase the space station's ability to conduct two-way data, voice, and video communications.

They put into place a new tool platform for the Dextre robot, and Bowen prepared six batteries that will be installed during the second and third spacewalks by loosening the bolts that hold the batteries in place. The batteries weigh approximately 2,200 pounds.

Meanwhile, the space shuttle's robotic arm has successfully grappled the Mini Research Module-1 for relocation to the space station on flight day 5. It will provide additional storage space and a new docking port for Russian spacecraft.

This was the first of three STS-132 spacewalks, 237th conducted by U.S. astronauts, the second for Reisman and the fourth for Bowen. It was the 144th in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 900 hours, 58 minutes. First Spacewalk of STS-132 Complete

Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Stephen Bowen completed the first spacewalk of the STS-132 mission at 3:19 p.m. EDT. They installed a second station space-to-ground Ku-band antenna and a spare parts platform on Dextre, the two-armed robotic Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator. The spacewalk lasted 7 hours, 25 minutes.

NASA Shuttle Atlantis STS-132 Lift-off

Space shuttle Atlantis soars to orbit from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the STS-132 mission to the International Space Station at 2:20 p.m. EDT on May 14.

The third of five shuttle missions planned for 2010, this was the last planned launch for Atlantis.

Image Credit: NASA/Kenny Allen

NASA Shuttle Atlantis: STS-132 Crew Ready to Fly

The crew of space shuttle Atlantis dressed in their orange launch-and-entry suits, are cheered on by employees and media representatives on hand as they depart from crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building.

In the left row, from front, are Pilot Tony Antonelli followed by Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Steve Bowen. In the right row, from front, are Commander Ken Ham followed by Mission Specialists Michael Good and Piers Sellers.