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Live In Orbit: No Grease Gun, No Problem

An Endeavour spacewalker has been given the go-ahead to use an alternative method for cleaning a damaged International Space Station joint.

After losing a tool bag holding two grease guns Tuesday, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper used a "wet" wipe to complete a step that previously employed a grease gun. The wipe is a terrycloth mitt coated with the space grease, called Braycote.

The image at left, from Tuesday's spacewalk, shows the wet wipe with one surface nearly black with grease.

Today, Stefanyshyn-Piper wiped the outer surface of the joint's steel gear ring - also visible in the picture - thoroughly with the mitt. Then she used a scraper to pry up "pancakes" of metal shavings pressed against the surface.

More at www.floridatoday.com


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