NASA lifts ban on spacewalks

HOUSTON -- NASA has lifted a temporary ban on spacewalks after investigating a report of a smoky odor during tests of a spacesuit last week.

A spokeswoman said engineers believe the odor probably came from a canister containing a metal oxide used to absorb the carbon dioxide produced by astronauts during spacewalks, The Houston Chronicle reported Friday.

The decision to lift the ban means the crew of the International Space Station can go ahead with preparations for a nearly seven-hour spacewalk next week. The astronauts will be outfitting the new Harmony module that was delivered to the station aboard the shuttle Discovery last month, the newspaper said.

The spacewalk is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning from the U.S. airlock Quest, NASA said in a release. ISS commander Peggy Whitson will be assisted by flight engineer Dan Tani during the six-hour and 40-minute session.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International