Repaired array tensioned and cleared for sun tracking
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: November 3, 2007
Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock began repressurizing the Quest airlock module at 1:22 p.m. to close out a dramatic seven-hour 19-minute spacewalk after successfully repairing a mangled space station solar array. A few minutes earlier, commands were sent to put full tension on the repaired P6 array and the lab's left-side solar panels were cleared for normal sun-tracking operation.
Today's spacewalk, the fourth and final excursion for the Discovery astronauts, pushed the crew's total EVA time to 27 hours and 14 minutes. Parazynski now ranks fifth in the world in cumulative spacewalk time with 47 hours and five minutes over seven EVAs.
With the P6 solar arrays now fully extended, under tension and rotating to track the sun in concert with the inboard P4 arrays, the station has enough power to support the addition of a new European research module as planned in December. The shuttle Atlantis, scheduled for blastoff Dec. 6 to ferry the Columbus research lab into orbit, was moved from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center today for attachment to an external tank and solid rocket boosters.
But the schedule is tight and it will be up to station commander Peggy Whitson, Tani and flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko to complete a long list of chores to clear the way for Atlantis' long-awaited mission.
First, Whitson and Malenchenko plan a spacewalk Nov. 9 to finish rigging the newly delivered Harmony module for its move to the front of the space station. Harmony was temporarily attached to the Unity module's left port. On Nov. 12, the crew will use the station's robot arm to move the shuttle docking port from the front of the Destiny lab module to Harmony. Two days later, the Harmony/docking port assembly will be moved to the front of Destiny and bolted in place.
Whitson and Tani plan two more spacewalks, on Nov. 20 and 24, to connect Harmony to the space station's main power and cooling systems. That will set the stage for the Columbus module's attachment to Harmony's right-side port in December. Japanese modules will attached to Harmony's upper and left-side ports in February and April.
With P6 and P4 rotating normally to track the sun, NASA has a bit of breathing room to troubleshoot a problem with the right-side solar alpha rotary joint, or SARJ. Two massive rotary joints, one on each side of the station's main power truss, slowly turn the port and starboard solar arrays to track the sun as the lab complex circles the globe.
During a spacewalk last Sunday, Tani discovered metallic contamination inside the right-side SARJ, indicating a potentially serious bearing or alignment problem. A planned heat-shield repair demonstration spacewalk originallly planned for Thursday was called off to permit a more thorough inspection of the starboard SARJ. Then on Tuesday, the P6 array was damaged during deployment and NASA managers ultimately scrapped the SARJ inspection to make way for today's repair work.
The starboard SARJ issue must be addressed at some point, but any additional inspections and repair work likely will slip into next year. In the meantime, officials say, the station can safely operate with two of its three solar arrays in sun-track mode.
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
FRIDAY'S STATUS BRIEFING AND SPACEWALK PREVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
THURSDAY'S STATUS BRIEFING AND SPACEWALK PREVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW NEWS BRIEFING WITH U.S., ITALY, RUSSIA PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
SOLAR ARRAY WING TEARS DURING DEPLOYMENT PLAY
VIDEO:
FIRST SOLAR ARRAY IS SUCCESSFULLY UNFURLED PLAY
VIDEO:
HOUSTON BEGINS SOLAR ARRAYS DEPLOY SEQUENCE PLAY
VIDEO:
SPARE POWER SWITCHING UNIT INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO:
INSPECTIONS OF PORT-SIDE ROTARY JOINT PLAY
VIDEO:
RADIATOR UNFOLDED FROM THE P6 TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO:
THE ASTRONAUTS PAUSE FOR QUICK PHOTOS PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS REMOVE SHROUDS FROM P6 BOXES PLAY
VIDEO:
P6 TRUSS CAPTURED CLAW-LIKE INSTALL LATCH PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS HELP GUIDE P6 TRUSS INTO PLACE PLAY
VIDEO:
DOUG WHEELOCK EMERGES FROM AIRLOCK FOR EVA PLAY
VIDEO:
ROBOT ARM MOVES TRUSS FROM OVERNIGHT PARK SPOT PLAY
VIDEO:
NARRATED ANIMATION OF P6 TRUSS INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF TUESDAY'S SPACEWALK PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
ANOTHER RADIATOR DEPLOYED FROM THE S1 TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO:
RADIATOR DEPLOYED FROM STARBOARD 1 TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS HAVE SOME FUN IN HARMONY PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWED BY ABC NEWS PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWED BY NBC NEWS PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWED BY CNN PLAY
VIDEO:
NARRATED ANIMATION OF RADIATOR DEPLOYS PLAY
VIDEO:
NARRATED ANIMATION OF PORT 6 HANDOFF PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
POST-SPACEWALK MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
ROBOT ARM GRAPPLE BASE INSTALLED ON HARMONY PLAY
VIDEO:
STATION CABLING FOR P6 TRUSS CONFIGURED PLAY
VIDEO:
TANI COLLECTS SAMPLES OF DEBRIS IN ROTARY JOINT PLAY
VIDEO:
TANI DISCOVERS UNKNOWN DEBRIS INSIDE ROTARY JOINT PLAY
VIDEO:
THE PORT 6 TRUSS DETACHED FROM THE SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS UNBOLT THE PORT 6 TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO:
NARRATED ANIMATION OF PORT 6 REMOVAL PLAY
VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF SUNDAY'S SPACEWALK PLAY
VIDEO:
BIOGRAPHY MOVIE ON DISCOVERY'S ASTRONAUTS PLAY
VIDEO:
BIOGRAPHY MOVIE ON EXPEDITION 16 CREW PLAY
VIDEO:
BIOGRAPHY ON NEW EXPEDITION 16 MEMBER DAN TANI PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWED BY CBS NEWS PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWED BY FOX NEWS PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWED BY WHAM-TV PLAY
VIDEO:
SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS ENTER HARMONY FOR FIRST TIME PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW COMMENTS FROM INSIDE HARMONY PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
FIRST STS-120 SPACEWALK CONCLUDES PLAY
VIDEO:
ROBOT ARM INSTALLS HARMONY ON THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO:
HARMONY MODULE LIFTED OUT OF PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO:
S-BAND ANTENNA STOWED IN DISCOVERY'S BAY PLAY
VIDEO:
WHEELOCK RIDES STATION ARM WITH ANTENNA PLAY
VIDEO:
MISSION STS-120'S SPACEWALK NO. 1 BEGINS PLAY
VIDEO:
ANIMATED PREVIEW OF HARMONY INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO:
NARRATED ANIMATION OF SHUTTLE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO:
HARMONY'S PRE-LAUNCH PREPS AT THE CAPE PLAY
VIDEO:
BACKGROUND INFO ON HARMONY MODULE PLAY
VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FRIDAY'S SPACEWALK PLAY
VIDEO:
THURSDAY MANAGEMENT TEAM NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
POST-DOCKING MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
INSPECTION BOOM HANDED BETWEEN ROBOT ARMS PLAY
VIDEO:
SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO:
RING BETWEEN THE DOCKING PORTS RETRACTED PLAY
VIDEO:
REPLAY OF DOCKING FROM PAYLOAD BAY CAMERAS PLAY
VIDEO:
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY DOCKS TO THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO:
DISCOVERY PERFORMS 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO:
SHUTTLE APPROACHES STATION FROM BELOW PLAY
VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
BRIEFING ON LAUNCH IMAGERY AND TANK'S PERFORMANCE PLAY
VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
HEAT SHIELD INSPECTIONS EXPLAINED PLAY
VIDEO:
THE FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO:
INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO:
DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: KSC RUNWAY PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 WIDESCREEN PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA WIDESCREEN PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 009 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 041 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 049 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 050 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 051 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 054 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 060 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 061 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 063 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 070 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 071 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA UCS-12 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA UCS-15 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-1 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-2 PLAY
VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-6 PLAY
VIDEO:
THE CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR THE PAD PLAY
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS SUITS UP ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY
VIDEO:
A LOOK BACK AT SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S HISTORY PLAY
VIDEO:
PAD 39A'S ROTATING GANTRY MOVED BACK PLAY
VIDEO:
INTERVIEW CLIPS WITH THE ASTRONAUTS PLAY
VIDEO:
MONDAY MORNING'S STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO:
SUNDAY COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
SATURDAY COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO:
WATCH THE CREW'S ARRIVAL FOR LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO:
NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLS TO LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO:
CRANE HOISTS DISCOVERY FOR MATING TO TANK PLAY
VIDEO:
DISCOVERY MOVED TO THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY
VIDEO:
HYDRAULIC SEALS REPLACED ON LANDING GEAR STRUT PLAY
VIDEO:
FUEL TANK ATTACHED TO SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS PLAY
VIDEO:
FOAM REMOVED FROM FUEL TANK FEEDLINE BRACKETS PLAY
VIDEO:
STS-120 MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING PART 1 | PART 2
VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF THE MISSION'S FIVE SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO:
DISCOVERY'S ASTRONAUTS MEET THE PRESS PLAY
VIDEO:
BRIEFING ON SHUTTLE AND ISS PROGRAMS PLAY
MORE:
STS-120 VIDEO COVERAGE
SUBSCRIBE NOW
|