Construction Time
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The image here (NASA TV), shows a truss segment being put into position with the shuttles robotic arm. This afternoon a construction crew, from STS 117 will attach and activate the truss to the International Space Station. The truss segment contains a new set of solar arrays.
The construction crew, namely Jim Reilly and Danny Olivas are set to start the EVA (NASA jargon for a spacewalk) at 2:53 pm. During the spacewalk, they will be making data and cooling connections to the truss. Then there is the task of releasing locks and launch restraints on the solar arrays. Not that this is probably more difficult than any other thing they are doing today, but it precedes the deployment of the arrays, let’s hope it all goes smoothly.
The job is expected to take 6.5 hours!! I bet they will be ready for a break once that’s over.
Update:Â The install was successful and maybe we will have activation today (12 June)
[...] the thermal blanketing around the engines. NASA do not believe this will jeopardise the mission and work is progressing fast aboard the ISS. I attempted to observe the Shuttle passing overhead on Saturday [...]
It’s amazing, the construction they can do in space. Those pieces can wiegh tons, and they can be moved around like working with a feather.
Yeah, before you know it, they’ll be building ships in space like the starship Enterprise.