ISS Solar array producing power despite rip

[Barry Bonzack]

Thought this Story (http://floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071031/NEWS02/710310347/1007) optimizes the FIRST saying "Purpose over pimpness"

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20071031&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=710310347&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

The second wing was being deployed without incident when a 2.5-foot rip suddenly was spotted in one of its solar blankets. The astronauts quickly aborted the operation at only
80 percent complete.

Remarkably, the loss in power production is only three percent. As it turned out, no critical power feed lines -- only blanket material -- were damaged.

The wing is "getting all the power we need," Suffredini said. "It doesn't have to look good; it just needs to give us power. So it's not about style points at this point with this array."

[dlavery]

Thought this Story (http://floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071031/NEWS02/710310347/1007) optimizes the FIRST saying "Purpose over pimpness"

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20071031&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=710310347&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

If you like that one, then you need to look at the Skylab project (http://history.nasa.gov/SP-400/sp400.htm) and the solar array/sunshield repair and replacement activity. It is one of the best examples of "function over form" that I have ever seen. It did the job and worked perfectly, but was one of the ugliest solutions anyone had seen in a long time (but no one cared! :) )

-dave

[JaneYoung]

What are these solar panels made of and how are they constructed? (I understand the accordion part)

[Roger]

I have no idea, Jane, but Wikipedia does (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Truss_Structure). I still find it amazing how small a package it folds into. Which seems to me to be the problem: if they didn't have to unfold and refold the solar array wings they wouldn't do what they're not supposed to do. But I don't think there was a way to test it on Earth that would match the microgravity of orbit. I'm sure they are working on an improved type now -- or (if they have them already in production) planning for an extra spacewalk to get them into position.

Tomorrow (Saturday) early morning they have a major spacewalk planned (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/news/msb_sts120_fd11.html) to get an astronaut way out to the rips, taking the Shuttle's Canadarm (I like saying that!) and attaching it to the ISS arm to get enough reach. (Sorry, the news story (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html) has the arm extension being used -- the part they use to reach under the Shuttle to check the tiles) As always, it'll be on NASA-TV (http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html).