'It's In, Thank God': Astronauts Finish Risky Chore

Two Russian astronauts successfully removed an apparently defective bolt from their Soyuz spacecraft during a risky spacewalk today, the Houston Chronicle reports. The bolt itself packed the punch of an explosive firecracker, so the astronauts had to disconnect it, then stuff it into a steel case. "It's in, thank God," said one of the spacewalkers.

The past two Soyuz descents to Earth from the International Space Station have been dangerously fast and off course, and Moscow thinks the bolt is culprit. Today's mission should make for a safer trip home in October. The two Russians will have little time to rest—they've got another spacewalk, this one more routine, scheduled for tomorrow. (More spacewalk stories.)