Spacewalkers Garrett Reisman and Steve Bowen installed and connected the new space-to-ground antenna to its permanent location on the space station. They connected the antenna dish to the boom assembly they installed earlier in the spacewalk. Bowen installed a heat shield around the antenna’s electronics box. However, a 1 millimeter gap in the interface between the antenna and the boom resulted in the spacewalkers leaving launch locks installed that prevent the antenna dish from rotating and strapped the antenna and boom together to secure the two components.
Bowen then recharged oxygen in his spacesuit, which will allow the spacewalkers to continue working beyond the spacewalk’s planned 6.5 hour duration.
Meanwhile, Reisman travelled back to the spare parts pallet to pick up a new storage platform for Dextre, the two-armed robotic Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator. After removing the four bolts holding it in place, he will meet Bowen back at Dextre on top of the Destiny laboratory, where they will install four bolts to secure the platform to the robot. If time permits, they will connect two electrical fuses and install a maintenance tether.