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Crew may do extra ISS spacewalk | Crew may do extra ISS spacewalk |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Discovery crew may have to perform an unscheduled spacewalk to fix a stuck solar panel on the International Space Station (ISS). | The Discovery crew may have to perform an unscheduled spacewalk to fix a stuck solar panel on the International Space Station (ISS). |
The array, which needs to be folded away to make room for new solar panels, jammed as the astronauts attempted to retract it by remote control. | The array, which needs to be folded away to make room for new solar panels, jammed as the astronauts attempted to retract it by remote control. |
Nasa officials are considering the possibility of an extra spacewalk to carry out a hands-on repair. | Nasa officials are considering the possibility of an extra spacewalk to carry out a hands-on repair. |
A second spacewalk to rewire the ISS is has been completed, Nasa says. | |
Mission specialists Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang, who performed the first spacewalk of the mission, began work at 1541EST (1941 GMT). | |
Before the duo began the spacewalk, flight controllers on the ground powered down half of the station. | Before the duo began the spacewalk, flight controllers on the ground powered down half of the station. |
An extra spacewalk would take the total number during the mission to four. | An extra spacewalk would take the total number during the mission to four. |
New panels | New panels |
It has been six years since the 35m (115ft) panel, which has served as the space station's primary power source, was deployed and it has not been retracted during that period. | |
New solar panels, fitted in September, will take over the job of powering the ISS. | |
During the first spacewalk, the astronauts spent hours grappling with it, comparing the process to folding up a road map, before finally admitting defeat after the system jammed. | During the first spacewalk, the astronauts spent hours grappling with it, comparing the process to folding up a road map, before finally admitting defeat after the system jammed. |
The solar array needs to be folded away to make way for new panels | The solar array needs to be folded away to make way for new panels |
ISS resident Michael Lopez-Alegria told Houston: "We all tried as much up here as you guys did on the ground and it just wasn't going to work for us today. | ISS resident Michael Lopez-Alegria told Houston: "We all tried as much up here as you guys did on the ground and it just wasn't going to work for us today. |
"But that stuff happens and I'm sure we'll get through it." | "But that stuff happens and I'm sure we'll get through it." |
They will begin to rewire the station to enable it to use the power produced by new solar arrays. | They will begin to rewire the station to enable it to use the power produced by new solar arrays. |
This should boost the ISS's power by about 50%. | This should boost the ISS's power by about 50%. |
In preparation for the spacewalk, the two astronauts are "camping out" in the station's airlock. | In preparation for the spacewalk, the two astronauts are "camping out" in the station's airlock. |
The third space walk is scheduled for Saturday, after which the fourth unscheduled walk may take place. | The third space walk is scheduled for Saturday, after which the fourth unscheduled walk may take place. |
Night flight | Night flight |
Discovery blasted off from Florida at the weekend in the first night launch of a space shuttle for four years, after being delayed for two days because of bad weather. | Discovery blasted off from Florida at the weekend in the first night launch of a space shuttle for four years, after being delayed for two days because of bad weather. |
The first spacewalk took place on Tuesday | The first spacewalk took place on Tuesday |
The landing date is set for 21 December back at the Kennedy Space Center. | The landing date is set for 21 December back at the Kennedy Space Center. |
It is as yet unclear whether an additional spacewalk would prolong the trip which is scheduled to last 12 days. | It is as yet unclear whether an additional spacewalk would prolong the trip which is scheduled to last 12 days. |
Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang. | Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang. |
A British-born astronaut, Nicholas Patrick, is among Discovery's crew. For five of the seven astronauts, this is their first shuttle flight. | A British-born astronaut, Nicholas Patrick, is among Discovery's crew. For five of the seven astronauts, this is their first shuttle flight. |
One of crew, US astronaut Sunita Williams, will stay on at the ISS when Discovery heads home, taking German Thomas Reiter back to Earth. | One of crew, US astronaut Sunita Williams, will stay on at the ISS when Discovery heads home, taking German Thomas Reiter back to Earth. |
At least 14 more missions are needed to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. | At least 14 more missions are needed to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. |