First Spacewalk Tonight for STS-130

The crew of space shuttle Endeavour awoke at 4:14 p.m. EST to the song “Beautiful Day” by U2, played for Mission Specialist for Kay Hire.

The fifth day of the mission will focus on the first spacewalk and robotics work to install the Tranquility node. The spacewalk is expected to begin at around 9:09 p.m., although could begin a little earlier if the crew is ready.

Spacewalkers Nicholas Patrick and Bob Behnken will prepare Tranquility for its removal from Endeavour’s payload bay and then install avionics cabling once the new module is in place. Terry Virts and Hire will operate the station’s robotic arm to install Tranquility with the Cupola. The spacewalkers also will remove a tool platform from the station’s special purpose dexterous manipulator, or DEXTRE, while Tranquility is being maneuvered. Station Commander Jeff Williams and Hire will begin a leak check of the interface to Tranquility.