Astronauts tackling antenna work in 1st spacewalk

[May 17, 2010]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Two astronauts are out spacewalking at the International Space Station.

Garrett Reisman and Stephen Bowen ventured outside Monday morning to install a spare antenna on the space station. The visiting Atlantis crewmen also will hook up a storage platform and loosen the bolts on batteries that will be replaced on the following two spacewalks.

NASA may add an extra chore to the second or third spacewalk. A cable is snagged at the end of the shuttle's inspection boom. Managers say it should be a quick and easy job to free it. The problem prevented a proper inspection of Atlantis over the weekend.

Atlantis arrived at the space station Sunday. It's the last flight of Atlantis as the shuttle program winds down.

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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