News From Space!

The ISS has a new set of “wings” today. That’s not all that got extended -  yesterday evening, mission managers added two days and a fourth EVA to the flight. Landing now is targeted for around 1:54 p.m. on 21 June 2007. NASA reports:

Station Spreads New Wings; Crew Preps for Spacewalk

Image above: The rear-facing solar array on the space station’s S3/S4 truss is fully deployed. Image credit: NASA TV

The International Space Station spread its new set of wings Tuesday, and the STS-117 crew members prepared for the mission’s next spacewalk.

The solar arrays on the newly installed Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment deployed to their full length with the assistance of the STS-117 crew. The S3/S4 was attached to the station Monday before the start of STS-117’s first spacewalk, during which astronauts began activating the truss. The arrays will increase the station’s ability to generate power when they go online.

Tuesday’s deployment activities occurred in steps, beginning about 11:43 a.m. EDT. The forward-facing array on the S3/S4 was first deployed to its length of 115 feet. The procedure was repeated for the rear-facing array which was fully deployed about 1:58 p.m.

Then, the STS-117 astronauts enjoyed a few hours of off duty time before beginning preparations for the mission’s second spacewalk on Wednesday. Mission Specialists Steve Swanson and Pat Forrester will continue the activation of the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of the starboard solar array on the Port 6 (P6) truss during the spacewalk. Wednesday’s excursion is scheduled to begin at 2:03 p.m.

The P6 will move from its location atop the station to the end of the Port 5 truss during a future mission.

Late in the workday, STS-117 crew members participated in interviews with CBS News and El Paso, Texas, TV stations KFOX-TV and KTSM-TV.

Flight Day 4 pics and video are up at the JSC Gallery. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.

Tuesday will see joint operations continue between the docked Atlantis-ISS complex.  NASA reports:

P3/P4 Solar Arrays Deploying

Image above: The forward array of the space station’s new solar array wings waits to be fully unfurled. Image credit: NASA TV

The International Space Station’s new solar arrays are stretching to their full length with the assistance of the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews. The array is on the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment that was attached to the station Monday.

Today’s deployment activities began about 11:43 a.m. EDT. The first array that will be deployed to its length of 115 feet is on the forward-facing side of the S3/S4. After the forward array is deployed, the process will repeat for the rear-facing array.

The STS-117 crew will get a few hours of off duty time this afternoon before they begin preparations for the mission’s second spacewalk on Wednesday. Mission Specialists Steve Swanson and Pat Forrester will continue the activation of the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of the starboard solar array on the Port 6 (P6) truss. Wednesday’s spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 2:03 p.m.

The P6 will move from its current location atop the station to the end of the Port 5 truss during a future mission.

Managers Add Spacewalk, 2 Days to Mission

During a post-mission management briefing Monday, John Shannon, chair of the Mission Management Team, announced NASA will extend the mission two extra days and add a fourth spacewalk. The team extended the mission by two days and added a fourth EVA to provide time to repair the raised thermal blanket on the Orbital Maneuvering System pod. A decision about whether that job will be done on EVA 3 or EVA 4 is expected today.

More mission pics and video are up at the JSC Gallery. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.