The rotary joint on the right side of the space station hasn't worked properly for more than a year, preventing the solar wings on that side from pointing automatically toward the sun. Grinding parts left the joint full of metal shavings.

Almost all the gritty mess was cleaned up during the first three spacewalks and new bearings were put in. Bowen finished the job Monday, paving the way for a test of the newly repaired joint Tuesday. Regardless of the outcome, more spacewalks are planned on later missions for a better, longer-term fix.

An identical joint on the left side of the orbiting complex has worked perfectly, but NASA wanted the spacewalkers to grease it up to ensure its longevity. Once they opened up this joint, the astronauts noticed wear on some parts.

The dialogue between the spacewalkers and the astronauts inside was technical and full of numbers denoting the various panels on the joints. "Too many numbers," one of the spacewalkers grumbled.

As they have before, the spacewalkers had to share grease guns 225 miles up. There was one less tool kit after a sack full of grease guns and other items floated away on the first spacewalk last Tuesday.

Inside the space station, meanwhile, skipper Mike Fincke performed more repair work on the new urine processor.