At 6:27 a.m. EDT, STS-132 spacewalkers Michael Good and Garrett Reisman switched their suits to battery power, signifying the start of today’s 6.5-hour excursion. Atlantis Pilot Tony Antonelli will be inside the International Space Station, choreographing the activities and coordinating communications between the spacewalkers and Mission Control in Houston.
This is the 239th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 146th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fourth for Good and the third for Reisman. Good, lead for this spacewalk, will wear a spacesuit marked with a band of red and white barber pole stripes; his helmet cam displays number 19. Reisman is wearing an all-white spacesuit, and his helmet cam displays number 20.
The primary work of the spacewalk is to exchange the two remaining batteries of the six Atlantis delivered to the space station. Other tasks include installation of the cargo carrier to the mobile transporter so it can be returned to shuttle, transferring a Power and Data Grapple Fixture from the shuttle to the station, installing an ammonia jumper cable between the port 4 and 5 trusses of the station, and positioning tools.