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back to article Atlantis 'nauts wrap boltastic first spacewalk

Atlantis spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Garrett Reisman wrapped their first STS-132 mission spacewalk at 19:19 GMT today, having spent seven hours and 25 minutes outside the ISS. Steve Bowen (right) and Garrett Reisman exit the ISS. Pic: NASA TV The pair successfully installed a second space-to-ground Ku-band antenna for the …

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  1. Ben 42
    Coat

    In fine El Reg fashion

    "bolt traditionalists" = boltards?

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  2. Tim #3

    Gap

    Er, does the 1mm gap mean that they haven't done said boilts up tight enough? Or should we be discussing washers too?

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    1. The_Police!
      Reply Icon
      Coat

      Erm

      I think we should be discussing washers as well!

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      1. Tim #3
        Reply Icon

        Definitely

        Sprung washers would be best methinks, just in case the ISS vibrates a bit.

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  3. Dodgy Geezer Silver badge
    Coat

    Can we now update the classic newspaper headline..

    of the maniac who raped some people at a launderette?

    'Nut screws washers and bolts'...

    Thank you - I'll be at my desk till lunchtime...

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  4. Anonymous Coward
    Happy

    Mmmm...

    "strapped the antenna and boom together to secure the two components."

    I want to know, what colour gaffer tape did they use, nice shiny silver or a functional black?

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    1. Tim #3
      Reply Icon

      Silver

      Silver is definitely stickier. However, just how do they begin peeling it off the roll in those somewhat bulky gloves? Is there a false fingernail attached to the outside of them?

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      1. Tom Chiverton 1
        Reply Icon

        Moon tape

        They managed to do it on the Moon OK...

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  5. Echelon_watches
    FAIL

    WTF

    How can it be 1mm ???

    The colonials always use Imperial measurement Units.

    It should be 0.0394 INCHES gap !!!!

    Oh and I trust the nuts for said bolts are castellated for safety.

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    1. Edwin
      Reply Icon

      Cotter pin

      Did you every try to fit a cotter pin while wearing spacesuit gloves? I mean, they're hard enough to get in with your bare hands!

      Didn't the airline industry use to use pairs of counter-rotating bolts with a wire between so that if one loosened, the other tightened? What about using those?

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      1. Tim #3
        Reply Icon

        Excellent

        They don't have to be counter-rotating, you can lockwire any two bolts together like that if you follow a certain method. However, as the ISS needs more left-hand threads then it is an admirable idea.

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  6. Edwin
    Pint

    Traditionalist?

    I realise that this new-fangled iBolt rage makes my views on threads seem somewhat old hat, but I'd like to point out that traditionally, a number of very common threads are left handed.

    For instance, a pair of bicycle pedals has opposing threads to avoid them falling off mid-ride. Although not the direction you'd expect, but why that is requires a swivelling bar stool and several pints to explain.

    Anyway, I'd like to know if there will be an AppStore for the iBolt that restricts the permitted applications of NASA's iBolts? I could imagine the solar panel mounts are too Flashy and would require e.g. duct tape.

    Man, I'm starting to feel like amanfrommars....

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