spacetoday.net: Solar panel tears during redeployment

Posted: Wed, Oct 31, 2007, 8:21 AM ET (1221 GMT)
STS-120: Torn solar panel (NASA)

A newly-relocated solar panel on the International Space Station ripped during its redeployment on Tuesday, and NASA is considering a further extension of the shuttle's stay at the ISS of deal with the problem. The rip took place as one of the panels on the P6 truss segment was extended following a seven-hour spacewalk by Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock, who completed the installation of the panels in their permanent location at the end of the port side of the truss. The gash was clearly visible in images, although the panel is still producing 97 percent of its normal power. NASA engineers are studying the effect of the tear on the panel and the station's overall power-generating capability, and what options exist to repair the panel. Shuttle managers are considering extending the shuttle's stay at the ISS by two days to carry out any repairs; the shuttle's mission had already been extended a day to cope with an unrelated problem with a joint that allows the solar arrays to track the Sun.