11 / 48
11
Other astronauts watched from inside the station, while on the
ground far below, NASA experts looked on helplessly.
It was up to the floating doctor to save the day.
Wearing bulky gloves but using delicate tools, the two men
carefully installed a new pump that would stop the leak. Marshburn
was used to working in pressure situations. This was like life back in
the ER . . . in zero gravity.
Though his wrench was tied to his glove, Marshburn still held on
tightly.Then he carefully tightened the last bolt. Marshburn and Cassidy
watched carefully for many minutes to see if any more ammonia leaked
out. The situation was tense, but Marshburn remained cool and calm.
Finally, after testing the pump, the word came through: All clear!
No more leak!
When Thomas Marshburn was working as a doctor, he probably
never thought that one day he would become a scientist in space! But
he was one of dozens of men and women who had taken their love of
science to new heights . . . really, really high new heights!