MISSION CONTROL CENTER (Korolyov), August 3 (RIA Novosti) - According to updated information, the Discovery shuttle astronauts will spend seven, instead of six, hours on their spacewalk, a NASA expert said Wednesday.

Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson were given an extra hour to work without haste outside the International Space Station (ISS) to complete their tasks, the expert said.

The astronauts will mount a small storage platform on the Quest docking compartment to hold spare parts and equipment required for spacewalks.

After that, Robinson and Noguchi will place a small box with different sample materials near the solar batteries of the U.S. segment of the ISS to study solar radiation impact.

Robinson will conduct repair work to ensure the shuttle's safe return to Earth. The astronaut will have to pull out a pair of ceramic gap strips that are sticking out from between heat-shield tiles and that could produce excessive heat as Discovery re-enters Earth's atmosphere.