21.   The balloon was gently inflated for five seconds and the membrane, made of the same tissue as the interior wall of the artery, was torn apart.

22.   The balloon then is inflated, opening the blockage, and the catheter is removed.

23.   The balloon will be inflated several times to clear the blockage.

24.   The forecast for the launch site is dead calm, perfect conditions for the crew to inflate the balloon and begin its effort.

25.   Then they will inflate the balloon in a region of the artery adjacent to the blockage.

26.   There, the balloon is inflated to squash the deposits of cholesterol that obstructed the artery.

27.   There, a balloon is inflated, clearing the blockage.

28.   They inflated a balloon on the tip of a catheter to open the blocked artery and to place a mesh tube or stent to keep the artery open.

29.   They inflated the balloon to about an eighth of an inch, and passed it back and forth several times.

30.   They then inflated the balloon, pushing open the artery and restoring normal blood flow.