NASA shelves Columbia space walks

November 30, 1996
Web posted at: 7:00 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (CNN) -- A jammed hatch forced NASA on Saturday to forgo both planned space walks and keep its astronauts inside the space shuttle Columbia.

NASA decided it was too risky for two astronauts to try to pry open the jammed door, because they might not have been able to close it again with a tight seal and could have become stuck outside. (1M/30 sec. QuickTime movie or 2.4M/30 sec. large-frame QuickTime movie)

Two space walks had been planned for Columbia's 16-day flight to test tools and techniques for building an international space station.

Engineers could not explain the sticking problem, but would examine it and possibly reschedule the planned space walk tests on a later flight, said Assistant Mission Manager Randy Stone.

NASA decided it would be better to focus on how to open and close the hatch -- in the unlikely event an emergency space walk were needed. The chance of that happening was extremely low. Such an emergency space walk has never been required in 15 years of shuttle flight.

The shuttle crew was prepared to use crowbar-like tools if asked to go out Saturday. Flight controllers made their decision just before the astronauts were awakened Saturday.

Columbia's five astronauts were informed of the decision after their wake-up call around 4 p.m. EST, to The Doors' song, "Break on Through to the Other Side."

On Thursday, NASA managers canceled the first of the two planned space walks after a fruitless two-hour struggle to open the hatch to the shuttle's airlock.

The astronauts still have a lengthy to-do list to complete before their mission ends Thursday, most notably retrieving an ultraviolet telescope they dropped off on November 19.

Correspondent John Holliman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

Special section:

CNN Interactive's extended coverage

• CNN's Space Exploration Gallery

Related stories:

• Shuttle crew awaits word onjammed door - November 30, 1996
• NASA cancels spacewalk - November 29, 1996
• Columbia flight will test space station equipment - November 19, 1996
• Shuttle to launch Friday, weather permitting - November 12, 1996
• NASA delays shuttle launch over booster concerns - November 4, 1996

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• NASA
• Magnificent Universe
• Boeing - International Space Station Site

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

Tell us what you think! You said it...

© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.