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National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058 AC 713 483-5111

Rh NASA's First Spacewalk in Over Five Years is Set for November

James Hartsfield Release No. 90-022

In November, astronauts will step out the door 243 nautical miles above Earth for the first NASA spacewalk in five years, or as it might be better described, a space ride.

Shuttle mission STS-37 crew members Jerry Ross and Jay Apt will conduct the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) Flight experiment in the payload bay of Atlantis. Ross and Apt will try three different methods of propelling a small cart along rails in the bay in an effort to identify the best way to move on the exterior of Space Station Freedom. Necessity, good timing and enthusiasm have pushed CETA a long way in a short time.

"EVA's are something it's easy to get people excited about," said Ed Whitsett, CETA project manager at the Johnson Space Center. “People have been willing to make a lot of sacrifices to pull this all together."

CETA didn't exist until June 1989, after the final payload review for STS-37 had already taken place, Whitsett said. But the experiment, through long hours put in by those supporting it, came together and was ready for the previously scheduled launch of STS-37 this June. The flight crew played a large part in getting the experiment on track for the prospective launch date.

Although mechanical tests and procedure checks of CETA are the primary reason behind the spacewalk, an important contributing factor is the simple need for NASA to take a walk on the high side again.

“We're excited about it," explained Ross, who will make his third spacewalk. "We're anxious to build up the EVA team again, to build up the experience base. We see a large quantum jump ahead in the amount of time spent EVA as space station gets closer."

The five-year lapse has taken a toll on experienced EVA personnel available among astronauts, flight controllers, engineers and other team members.