Astronauts set spacewalk records

HOUSTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Spacewalk records are being set this week at the International Space Station.

Following Sunday's second spacewalk of the current series, Cmdr. Mike Lopez-Alegria, with eight spacewalks totaling 54 hours and 42 minutes, now ranks third on the all-time list behind Jerry Ross and Anatoly Solovyev.

He is expected to equal Ross' mark of nine spacewalks Thursday and move into second place for the most spacewalk time by an American astronaut at the 3 hour and 50 minute mark. He is expected to surpass Ross' record for most spacewalks by an American Feb. 22 during the Russian outing.

Flight Engineer Suni Williams now holds the record for most spacewalk time by a female at 22 hours and 37 minutes. NASA mission controllers in Houston expect her to eclipse the mark she shares with Kathy Thornton for most spacewalks by a female -- three -- Thursday.