Attention Turns To Second Spacewalk, Impact Sensor Reading

Right on schedule, the International Space Station spread its new set of "wings" Tuesday, allowing STS-117 crew members to turn their attention to the mission's next spacewalk.

NASA reports the solar arrays on the newly installed Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment deployed to their full length with the assistance of the STS-117 crew. The S3/S4 was installed onto the station Monday before the start of STS-117's first spacewalk, during which STS-117 astronauts began activating the truss. The arrays will increase the station's ability to generate power when they go online.

Tuesday's deployment activities occurred in steps, beginning about 1143 EDT. The forward-facing array on the S3/S4 was first deployed to its length of 115 feet. The procedure was repeated for the rear-facing array, which was fully deployed about 1358 EDT.

"We see a good deploy," said astronaut James Reilly after the rear array was unfurled, reports The Associated Press.

"Good work," Mission Control replied.

The STS-117 astronauts were able to enjoy a few hours of off duty time Tuesday afternoon, before beginning preparations for the mission's second spacewalk on Wednesday. Mission Specialists Steve Swanson and Pat Forrester will continue the activation of the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of the starboard solar array on the Port 6 (P6) truss during the spacewalk. Wednesday's excursion is scheduled to begin at 1403 EDT.

The P6 will move from its location atop the station to the end of the Port 5 truss during a future mission.

As ANN reported Monday, NASA has extended Atlantis' stay in orbit an additional two days, in order to give astronauts time for a fourth spacewalk to reattach a thermal blanket atop the shuttle's port orbital maneuvering system pod. The blanket's edge was pulled back during last Friday's launch, exposing a section of the shuttle's aluminum and graphite skin underneath.

Meanwhile, NASA is also looking into reports of a possible impact along the leading edge of the shuttle's starboard wing, although so far evidence appears to point to an errant sensor reading, and not an actual collision.

Mission management team chairman John Shannon said an accelerometer detected a positive-1G change along a portion of the wing's leading edge -- apparently indicating a possible impact of space debris or other foreign matter along Atlantis' fragile heat shield. No other sensors recorded such an impact, however, so NASA doesn't feel an actual impact occurred.

Engineers will study images taken of the shuttle's right wing when the orbiter undocks from the International Space Station June 19, ahead of its planned June 21 return to Earth.

FMI: www.nasa.gov