DIY in the sky

A SPACEWALKING astronaut gently pulled two potentially dangerous strips of protruding filler from Discovery’s tile belly with his gloved hand yesterday, successfully completing an unprecedented emergency repair.

Astronaut Stephen Robinson said both pieces came out easily during the space-walk, which lasted six hours. He did not have to use a makeshift hacksaw he brought along just in case.

“That came out very easily,” Robinson said of the second piece. “I don’t see any more gap filler. I’m doing my own inspection here. It is a very nice orbital belly.”