Space Station Astronauts Continue Installing New Solar Array for Power System Upgrade
NASA astronauts Woody Hoburg and Steve Bowen conducted their second spacewalk in six days to install and deploy another roll-out solar array on the International Space Station (ISS).
The purpose of the spacewalk was to augment the power system of the orbiting laboratory. This follows a similar spacewalk on June 9 when the astronauts connected and unfurled another solar array on the station's power truss.
The new roll-out solar array, known as iROSA (ISS Roll-Out Solar Array), was delivered to the space station on June 5 by a SpaceX Cargo Dragon supply spacecraft. It will be installed on the starboard end of the station's truss backbone, partially covering the original solar panels that have degraded over time. The iROSA units, built by Redwire under contract with Boeing and NASA, have improved efficiency and will boost the station's power output back to its original levels.
NASA plans to order a final pair of roll-out solar arrays to complete the space station's electrical upgrade, ensuring sufficient power to support research until its planned retirement in 2030. The astronauts will attach the rolled-up solar array onto a mounting bracket installed on a previous spacewalk, then unfold the two blankets comprising the iROSA unit. The arrays will be connected to the station's power channels and rotary joints, allowing them to track the sun as the spacecraft orbits Earth.
The successful installation of the new solar array marks another milestone in the continuous efforts to enhance the power capabilities of the ISS, enabling crucial research activities and scientific advancements in space.
Source: spaceflightnow.com
