Astronauts await word on birth of crewman’s daughter

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Atlantis’ astronauts anxiously awaited word Friday on the birth of a crewman’s daughter as they moved more supplies into the International Space Station and geared up for another spacewalk.

Astronaut Randolph Bresnik was about to become a father for the second time. His wife, Rebecca, was due to give birth any moment in Houston. They already have an adopted 3-year-old son.

Friday was the expected delivery date.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact time. I wish I did. It would make our planning a little bit easier,” said flight director Brian Smith.

Smith joked: “Don’t the doctors and Rebecca realize this is NASA, and I’ve got a very well-thought-out, well-planned, meticulous time line, and they are not abiding by it.”