Extra ISS spacewalk planned
Posted: Fri, Dec 14, 2007, 7:08 AM ET (1208 GMT)
NASA announced Thursday that two members of the ISS crew will perform an additional spacewalk next week to inspect a solar panel joint that appears to be damaged. Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani will perform the EVA on Tuesday to inspect the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint on the starboard side of the station. Checks of the joint on previous spacewalks have turned up evidence of metal debris in the joint, a sign that the joint is damaged in some way that could ultimately prevent the joint from allowing the solar panels on that side of the station from tracking the Sun. Engineers now believe that the joint may have been struck by orbital debris or a micrometeorite, causing the damage. There are no plans to attempt to repair the joint during that spacewalk. The spacewalk, added after the STS-122 mission to the station was delayed until next month, is the 100th EVA devoted to ISS assembly and maintenance.
NASA announced Thursday that two members of the ISS crew will perform an additional spacewalk next week to inspect a solar panel joint that appears to be damaged. Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani will perform the EVA on Tuesday to inspect the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint on the starboard side of the station. Checks of the joint on previous spacewalks have turned up evidence of metal debris in the joint, a sign that the joint is damaged in some way that could ultimately prevent the joint from allowing the solar panels on that side of the station from tracking the Sun. Engineers now believe that the joint may have been struck by orbital debris or a micrometeorite, causing the damage. There are no plans to attempt to repair the joint during that spacewalk. The spacewalk, added after the STS-122 mission to the station was delayed until next month, is the 100th EVA devoted to ISS assembly and maintenance.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 26
Vandenberg Space Force Base Initiates New Rocket Launch Notification System
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 7:25 am ET (1125 GMT) Space Force missile warning competition robust despite RTX exit
Defense News — 7:25 am ET (1125 GMT) U.S. Space Force Eyes On-Orbit Weather Monitoring Systems
Aviation Week — 7:24 am ET (1124 GMT) EU’s rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink struggles to take off
POLITICO — 7:22 am ET (1122 GMT) Vandenberg base starts public notification system on rocket launches
Ventura County (CA) Star — 7:21 am ET (1121 GMT) |
