NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutlik completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:08 p.m. EDT. Their work advanced a major refurbishment of the station’s power system and included deploying the seventh new solar array planned for the orbiting laboratory.
Seventh solar array deployed
During the spacewalk, Menon and Kutlik installed and deployed an International Space Station Rollout Solar Array (IROSA) on the station’s 2A power channel. The array will provide additional electricity for critical operations, including the station’s eventual safe and controlled deorbit.
The astronauts also completed preliminary work for another spacewalk scheduled for Thursday, November 5. During that mission, astronauts are expected to install the eighth and final IROSA on the station’s 3B power channel. NASA is scheduled to begin live coverage at 6:45 a.m.; viewing information is available through NASA.
Solar power expansion nears completion
Once the final array is installed, the International Space Station’s solar power expansion will be complete. Together, the eight new arrays are expected to increase the station’s available power by up to 30 percent, raising generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
Spacewalk milestones
The completed excursion was designated America’s 100th spacewalk. It was Menon’s fourth spacewalk and Kutlik’s first, as well as the 285th spacewalk conducted in support of the assembly, maintenance and improvement of the International Space Station.
Source: www.sciencedaily.com
