APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 18)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 18)

Post by APOD Robot » Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:06 am

Image A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station

Explanation: What's that astronaut doing? Unloading a space shuttle -- for the last time. After the space shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station (ISS) last week, station astronaut Mike Fossum underwent a long spacewalk that included carrying a Robotics Refueling Mission (RRM) payload from Atlantis' cargo bay to a platform used by the space station's famous robot DEXTRE. On Earth, the RRM box would have the weight of about three people and be much more difficult to carry. Pictured above on the far left, DEXTRE prepares to help move a failed space pump back to Atlantis. Visible behind the astronaut is the space station's Kibo Experimental Module. The much awaited final shuttle return flight is currently scheduled for 5:56 am EDT Thursday, July 21.

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Joe Horton

Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Joe Horton » Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:19 am

I see 5. Y'all see more? No spoiler yet--two are sorta subtle.

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Beyond » Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:32 am

I found 5 also. Zooming up to 400% didn't help any. DRAT!!
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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Dr Jimy » Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:00 am

I seee 4 Canadian and 1 Japanesse

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Wayne » Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:18 am

I also see 4x Canadian and 1x Japanese. I was expecting something like 1,322 American and possibly half a Canadian if the Americans haven't covered it up with their own. Those people like flags. A lot.

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by alter-ego » Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:01 am

Wayne wrote:I also see 4x Canadian and 1x Japanese. I was expecting something like 1,322 American and possibly half a Canadian if the Americans haven't covered it up with their own. Those people like flags. A lot.
I believe all countries are appropriately represented, but I don't have a flag tally for you. To be fair, I don't think Americans are the only people who really like flags (if you were stating that).
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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Talorc » Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:13 am

I count three countries - Canada (4 flags), USA (1 flag), Japan (1 flag).

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Sudhamshu » Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:17 am

I too have found flags of the 2 countries mentioned earlier. In fact, the Canada splayed across the picture was possibly the first thing that grabbed my attention. The blue reflection at the back was also quite interesting.

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Boomer12k » Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:46 am

Looks like he left the refrigerator door open. :D

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by elizabeth.sasse246@btinternet.com » Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:45 am

I can only spot 4 I wonder where the one is that i missed?

wadoNeil

Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by wadoNeil » Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:07 am

Hi. Just a note to point out the typo, in case the editors care about such tiny details ... missing "ISS" before "Mike Fossum". HTH. Now, let's get counting flags ...

EKaper

Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by EKaper » Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:27 am

Actually I can't spot the flag on the astronaut, which should be there somewhere.

I wonder if that's another Japanese flag on the module to the left: the dark circle on the white rectangle?

William

Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by William » Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:31 am

I also see five 4 Canada Japan

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by owlice » Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:56 am

wadoNeil wrote:Hi. Just a note to point out the typo, in case the editors care about such tiny details ... missing "ISS" before "Mike Fossum". HTH. Now, let's get counting flags ...
They do care; I've emailed them. Thanks!
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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Dan » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:23 am

I think there are 6 flags. 4 Canadian, 1 Japanese and you can just make out the edge of an American flag on the space suit.

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by nstahl » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:37 am

I'll leave the flag counting to y'all while I ponder a "failed space pump". I wonder if the pump was intended to move space into the ISS or out of it or between parts of it. Then of course there's apparently a new technology involved, but does it, when moving space around, also move any accompanying dark matter or quintessence? :)

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by biddie67 » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:47 am

Good Morning, All. I found 4 Canadian flags and 1 Japanese flag - I was expecting to find one on the astronaut's suit but couldn't find one ....

nstahl :: a "space pump" does make you wonder ((grin))

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by neufer » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:54 am

nstahl wrote:
I'll leave the flag counting to y'all while I ponder a "failed space pump". I wonder if the pump was intended to move space into the ISS or out of it or between parts of it. Then of course there's apparently a new technology involved, but does it, when moving space around, also move any accompanying dark matter or quintessence? :)
I couldn't locate any Outer Space Pumps... however:

http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-REAC ... B00188M5RE
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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by nstahl » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:05 pm

Art, :D . Your pump looks a lot lighter than theirs and I'm guessing what it attaches to is more attractive.

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by wbd » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:08 pm

After the mention of a USA flag (be it on the spacesuit or elsewhere) I went back and had another look... but couldn't find anything.
So I'll stick by my original count: 4x Canadian flags and 1x Japanese flag.

Cheers!

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by neufer » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:12 pm

nstahl wrote:
Art, :D . Your pump looks a lot lighter than theirs and I'm guessing what it attaches to is more attractive.
Negative on both counts if I am wearing it with my size 15½ feet. (A busy space walk indeed!)
Last edited by neufer on Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by owlice » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:31 pm

And here I was lamenting that it didn't come in a 10.5; oh, Art, your poor feet! :shock:
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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Freeland » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:35 pm

I count 6 flags, 4 Canadian, 1 Japanese and 1 US flag. Not very much of the US flag shows, it is on the left shoulder of the astronaut. You can see more clearly where it should be in this picture:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STS-1 ... n_EVA2.jpg

Howard

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by Yesindeed » Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:56 pm

nstahl wrote:I'll leave the flag counting to y'all while I ponder a "failed space pump". I wonder if the pump was intended to move space into the ISS or out of it or between parts of it. Then of course there's apparently a new technology involved, but does it, when moving space around, also move any accompanying dark matter or quintessence? :)
I had the same thought when reading this. It's a pretty useless phrase "space pump" and tells you nothing at all about the thing.

Still, it did give me a chuckle :-)

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Re: APOD: A Busy Space Walk at the Space Station (2011 Jul 1

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:00 pm

Wow! It must be flag day! :mrgreen:
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