All systems go for spacewalk, despite junk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A spacewalk by two astronauts is still on for Thursday evening even though a large piece of space junk is headed their way.

Part of a three-year-old spent European rocket is expected to pass within 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of space shuttle Discovery and the international space station late Friday morning. NASA officials say that should be a safe distance and they do not expect the linked spacecraft to change course. But if the projections change, the astronauts would complete the spacewalk before steering out of the way.

The debris is believed to have an area surface of 200 square feet. link...