Spacewalk 2: Astronauts tackle tangled cable, battery work outside linked shuttle and station

Spacewalk 2: Crew tackle tangled cable, batteries

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The Atlantis astronauts are spacewalking again.

Astronauts Stephen Bowen and Michael Good floated out of the International Space Station on Wednesday morning.

Bowen’s first job is to try to free a snagged cable on the end of the shuttle’s inspection boom. The tangled cord is preventing the astronauts from thoroughly inspecting their ship for any possible damage.

NASA says it should take just a half-hour for Bowen to straighten and tie back the cable. The rest of the spacewalk will be devoted to battery work.

Bowen and Michael Good will replace three old space station batteries. Three more will be replaced Friday during the third and final spacewalk of the mission.

Atlantis delivered the fresh batteries over the weekend.