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Astronauts rewire space station | Astronauts rewire space station |
(20 minutes later) | |
Two crew members of the space shuttle Discovery have completed the delicate rewiring of the International Space Station (ISS) during a third spacewalk. | Two crew members of the space shuttle Discovery have completed the delicate rewiring of the International Space Station (ISS) during a third spacewalk. |
But Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams struggled to fix a jammed solar panel on the ISS. | But Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams struggled to fix a jammed solar panel on the ISS. |
Nasa has approved a fourth spacewalk, due to take place on Monday, which will delay the shuttle's return by a day. | Nasa has approved a fourth spacewalk, due to take place on Monday, which will delay the shuttle's return by a day. |
Mission Control said that the rewired electrical system was powered back up and now operating without problems. | Mission Control said that the rewired electrical system was powered back up and now operating without problems. |
Jammed panel | Jammed panel |
The rewiring, delayed after the 2003 Columbia disaster, will provide a power upgrade to support extra equipment. | The rewiring, delayed after the 2003 Columbia disaster, will provide a power upgrade to support extra equipment. |
"It's great to have some good on-orbit electricians working for us," said Stephen Robinson from Nasa Mission Control in Houston, Texas. | "It's great to have some good on-orbit electricians working for us," said Stephen Robinson from Nasa Mission Control in Houston, Texas. |
Mr Curbeam, an experienced spacewalker, left the ISS ahead of Sunita Williams, who was beginning her first mission. | Mr Curbeam, an experienced spacewalker, left the ISS ahead of Sunita Williams, who was beginning her first mission. |
"Bye-bye Bob," she said as he exited the station. | "Bye-bye Bob," she said as he exited the station. |
"Welcome to the club, Suni," he replied when she emerged a few minutes later. | "Welcome to the club, Suni," he replied when she emerged a few minutes later. |
During the spacewalk the astronauts relocated debris shield panels, attached a grapple fixture and performed a test on the partially retracted solar array. | During the spacewalk the astronauts relocated debris shield panels, attached a grapple fixture and performed a test on the partially retracted solar array. |
A solar panel on the space station failed to retract | A solar panel on the space station failed to retract |
After several attempts at fixing the jammed solar panel on the ISS, Nasa decided to halt the spacewalk as the astronauts' spacesuits were running short of supplies. | After several attempts at fixing the jammed solar panel on the ISS, Nasa decided to halt the spacewalk as the astronauts' spacesuits were running short of supplies. |
The array, which needs to be folded away to make room for new 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 panels, jammed as the astronauts attempted to retract it by remote control. |
It has been six years since the 35m (115ft) wing, which has served as the space station's primary power source, was deployed and it has not been retracted during that period. | It has been six years since the 35m (115ft) wing, 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, boosting its power by about 50%. | New solar panels, fitted in September, will take over the job of powering the ISS, boosting its power by about 50%. |
Night flight | Night flight |
The mission is taking place to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. At least 14 more missions are needed. | The mission is taking place to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. At least 14 more missions are needed. |
Discovery blasted off from Florida last weekend in the first night launch of a space shuttle in four years, after being delayed for two days because of bad weather. | Discovery blasted off from Florida last weekend in the first night launch of a space shuttle in four years, after being delayed for two days because of bad weather. |
Discovery's launch left a fiery trail in the Florida sky | Discovery's launch left a fiery trail in the Florida sky |
The landing date is now expected to be 22 December back at the Kennedy Space Center. | The landing date is now expected to be 22 December back at the Kennedy Space Center. |
Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Mr Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Ms Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang. | Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Mr Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Ms 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. |
Ms Williams will stay on at the ISS when Discovery heads home, taking German Thomas Reiter back to Earth. | Ms Williams will stay on at the ISS when Discovery heads home, taking German Thomas Reiter back to Earth. |