What improvements to solar array technology were utilized during the installation process?
Critical Mission Accomplished Successfully
On June 20, 2021, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet conducted a six-hour and 28-minute spacewalk to install new solar arrays on the International Space Station (ISS).
The impressive team effort and dangerous task required careful planning and execution. It involved meticulously assembling the panels in advance, carefully transporting and organizing the arrays, and conducting a precisely choreographed spacewalk.
The spacewalkers successfully completed the installation of the 2B power channel’s new iROSA (ISS Roll-Out Solar Array). They connected the new array to the existing daisy chain, wired it into the station’s power systems and successfully deployed the array.
The Importance of Maintaining Power Supply
The six ISS lithium-ion batteries energize the power grid. They rely on the sunlight that the solar array captures to recharge themselves. This power source is vital to the space station, as it provides necessary energy to keep the facilities running and operating at full capacity.
However, due to the current arrangement, the batteries tend to drain more rapidly during periods of Orbital Night. This environmental condition reduces the power supply and hampers the space station’s operations. Hence, replacing the solar arrays and upgrading the infrastructure is an essential step in the ISS’s progress and development.
The EVA (Extravehicular Activity) allows the new iROSA to absorb additional sunlight energy, making it the perfect replacement for the outdated solar panel arrays currently in use.
Conclusion
The latest mission accomplishment is of immense importance, as it ensures the stability of the station’s power supply, maintaining uninterrupted operations on the ISS. This six-hour spacewalk has made a significant contribution to the continuing scientific research, enabling the station to increase its capabilities and remain at the forefront of space exploration.
Congratulations to NASA and the European Space Agency for another milestone reached in their quest to better understand our universe.
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What is iROSA?
It stands for ISS Roll-Out Solar Array.
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What was the duration of the spacewalk?
Six hours and 28 minutes.
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What are the functions of the solar arrays on the ISS?
The solar arrays are critical to the ISS energy source, providing necessary energy to maintain the facilities’ operations.
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