spacetoday.net: NASA to attempt ISS solar panel repair

Posted: Thu, Nov 1, 2007, 7:36 AM ET (1136 GMT)
STS-120: Torn solar panel (NASA)

NASA has delayed a spacewalk planned to day to prepare for an attempted repair of a torn solar panel on the International Space Station. Thursday's EVA will now take place either Friday or Saturday, after engineers work out procedures to allow astronauts Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock to fix the panel, which tore in two placed while being extended on Tuesday. While the panel is still generating nearly 100 percent of its designed power, officials are concerned that the panel could be further damaged unless it's repaired now. Thursday's spacewalk was previously planned to further inspect a rotary joint that allows the solar arrays on part of the station to track the Sun; a check of the joint on Sunday revealed metallic debris in the joint, thought to be linked to vibrations in the joint during recent use.