All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. EVA-6 was successfully completed by CDR Yuri Onufrienko and FE-1 Carl Walz, approximately within the allotted time span.

After wakeup at 7:30 am EST, crew schedule focused on final EVA-6 preparations, beginning with Dan Bursch configuring ISS systems for the egress, and Yuri Onufrienko and Carl Walz doing the same for the PkhO Transfer Compartment and the DC-1 airlock systems.

Communications paths to the MCC-M from the Orlans, DC-1 and FGB were checked out and tested.

Walz and Onufrienko then performed final checkouts on the Orlan suits and their interface units (BSS) in PkhO and DC-1, before performing the obligatory pre-EVA Russian MedOps tests MO-8 (Body Mass Measurement) and MO-9 (Biochemical Urine Test). They will repeat these assessments after the EVA.

Both PCUs (plasma contactor units) were switched to Discharge Mode to neutralize any electrical potential that may build up on the external surface of ISS.

SM ventilation was shut down and air ducts from the PkhO and DC-1 removed by Bursch, before hatches were closed between SM/PkhO and FGB/PkhO at about 2:07 pm EST. With FE-2 Bursch at first "locked" out in the FGB, CDR and FE-1 ingressed the Orlans and closed their backpacks.

Following a series of leak checks of the suits, the DC-1 airlock was sealed off from the PkhO and depressurization started, followed by leak checks of the hatches.

An issue of easy accessibility of the MPEV (manual pressure equalization valve) in the Z1 hatch was analyzed by ground experts. The RED (resistive exercise device) is attached at the Node "ceiling" over the hatch and could block quick access to the MPEV in case the pressure between the Z1 vestibule and the ISS cabin must be equalized. It was determined that there is no concern of developing large enough negative pressure across the Z1 hatch which could cause the hatch to unseal briefly ("burp"). Also, in the unlikely event of hatch burping, no damage is expected for the hatch seal.

The SM's pitch and yaw thrusters were disabled during the spacewalk, and their function had been temporarily transferred to the corresponding thrusters on the Progress. Attitude was maintained by the U.S. CMGs in the Z1 truss.

EVA-6 started at 3:59 pm EST. Shortly after its start, Dan Bursch was allowed to open the hatches between FGB and SM in order to troubleshoot a chirping electronic noise in the SM which interfered with space-to-ground communications from the EVA workers.

First, EV1 (Onufrienko) and EV2 (Walz) used the Strela 1 cargo crane to transfer the Strela 2 (operator's post and boom/extension) from its latching place outside the PMA-1 (pressurized mating adapter #1) between Node and FGB to the DC-1, to attach it on the opposite side of the previously installed Strela 1. This major task was completed at 7:30 pm.

The second objective of the spacewalk was the transfer of the WA3 ham radio antenna from its stowage place at the end of the DC-1 EVA ladder to the SM aft end, taking a specially selected translation path which minimized potential exposure to toxic deposits from SM thrusters. The antenna location is on the outside of the unpressurized assembly compartment (AO) structure, which contains the integrated propulsion system (ODU), antennas, motion control and navigation system (SUDN) sensors and Rodnik water tanks. By 8:30 pm, the antenna had been clamped to a small handrail (#2627) with a lockable clip fastener, and its cable, coiled inside the antenna housing, was unreeled and mated several feet away at a connector plate on the aft end of the SM, not far from the docked Progress-256. The crewmembers then made their way back to the airlock, jettisoning their gloves and wiping towels before entering the DC-1. Hatch closure was reported at 10:02 pm, resulting in a total EVA-6 duration of 6 hours 3 minutes. It was the 32nd EVA in support of ISS assembly and the 7th conducted from the station itself. Total time for ISS-based EVAs stands at 29 h 4 min, total time for all ISS assembly EVAs at 196 h 19 min.

Source: NASA