41.   Nor that astronauts might someday be able to walk the surface of Europa without helmets and oxygen tanks.

42.   Normally, the spacewalking astronauts are double-tethered to the structure of the station or the tip of the robot arm as they work.

43.   Now female astronauts are routine, and the space agency prides itself on the women in its ranks of experts and officials.

44.   Now, Lazutkin will attempt the repair, assisted by Foale, if US and Russian officials decide the American astronaut is up to the task.

45.   Now with the crew on board Atlantis is astronaut John Blaha.

46.   On a second space walk, set for Wednesday, the same astronauts are to install several handrails and footrests on the outside of the modules.

47.   On regular flights, rockets and space vehicles accelerate and decelerate so fast that astronauts must be in excellent shape to withstand near-crushing gravity forces.

48.   On Saturday, the astronauts are to retrieve a satellite-observatory deployed earlier in the mission.

49.   Other astronauts are Joseph R. Tanner, Jean-Francois Clervoy and Dr. Scott E. Parazynski.

50.   Rogers wants to be an astronaut and said spending the day at JPL was beyond her wildest dreams.