News Service from House Harris

US: Astronauts end mission's longest spacewalk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, Nov 22 AP - Astronauts have finished the third of four spacewalks planned for space shuttle Endeavour's visit to the international space station.

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen climbed back into an airlockto complete their almost seven-hour trip outside the space station, the mission's longest walk so far.

The spacewalkers cleaned and lubricated a jammed joint that allows a space station solar wing to track the sun and generate power. The astronauts weren't able to finish all of their tasks but those chores will be done on a fourth spacewalk set for Monday.

No tools were lost during this spacewalk. A tool bag floated away from Stefanyshyn-Piper during the first spacewalk earlier this week.

AP sco=0A