In brief, the truss holding this solar array was being relocated as part of the ongoing ISS construction process, when astronauts noticed it had torn. While it could still generate power, it could not track the Sun in this condition for fear of causing further damage. It also made controlling the ISS’s attitude more difficult because it was wobbly.
Picture 6 shows that the improvised solution was just at the outer limit of where an EVA crewmember could reach. The repair platform was also wobbly, which was a problem because it could cause the crewmember to inadvertently touch the solar cells (an electrocution hazard).
The article does not go into details of how the cufflink device was designed or attached during the repair.
evermuzik on
idk how that machine can hold him steady with those gargantuan balls
sogo00 on
Is this r/redneckengineering or no red neck engineering in space?
kvacm on
Until now I thought they’re solid glass like we have here on Earth, cool!
itsRobbie_ on
What do these things feel like? Are they kinda soft like aluminum foil? Hard like a thin sheet of metal?
5 Comments
Read more about the repair process here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576509002562
In brief, the truss holding this solar array was being relocated as part of the ongoing ISS construction process, when astronauts noticed it had torn. While it could still generate power, it could not track the Sun in this condition for fear of causing further damage. It also made controlling the ISS’s attitude more difficult because it was wobbly.
Picture 6 shows that the improvised solution was just at the outer limit of where an EVA crewmember could reach. The repair platform was also wobbly, which was a problem because it could cause the crewmember to inadvertently touch the solar cells (an electrocution hazard).
The article does not go into details of how the cufflink device was designed or attached during the repair.
idk how that machine can hold him steady with those gargantuan balls
Is this r/redneckengineering or no red neck engineering in space?
Until now I thought they’re solid glass like we have here on Earth, cool!
What do these things feel like? Are they kinda soft like aluminum foil? Hard like a thin sheet of metal?