Shuttle Crew Prepares for 2nd Spacewalk

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. —  Space shuttle Endeavour’s astronauts snatched another satellite from orbit Tuesday and braced for a second spacewalk in subzero temperatures, this one even colder than the first.

The spacewalk is to see how well heated gloves and boots and other newly modified thermal gear protect astronauts in the frigid void. Astronauts will need such gear when they start assembling a space station in 1997.

Astronaut Winston Scott is to stand motionless for half an hour early today in the shadow of the shuttle as Endeavour flies in the coldest possible position.

“We’re really going to push the limits of the suit,” said Dr. Daniel Barry, who performed the first spacewalk of the mission Monday.

NASA expected the mercury to plunge to minus 100, 25 degrees colder than it was Monday.

Before focusing on the six-hour spacewalk, Endeavour’s six astronauts had to capture a gleaming NASA science satellite that they had released two days earlier.

Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata used the shuttle robot arm to grab the $10-million satellite, which was loaded with laser, spacecraft contamination and amateur radio experiments. On Saturday, he had plucked from space a Japanese science satellite that had been orbiting for nearly a year.

Endeavour is supposed to return to Earth with both satellites Saturday, provided a critical cooling system on the shuttle can be unclogged. Otherwise, the shuttle may be forced to land Friday.