Author Topic: ISS Solar Array Tear - What Next? (Read 49436 times)

ApolloLee · « **on:** 10/30/2007 04:21 pm »

NYC777 - 30/10/2007 10:18 AM

In my opinion the only way to fix this is to retract and have an EVA to cut the guide wire that hanging the array up. Either that or retract and then redeploy hoping that the wire will free itself.

Any one disagree?

Just remember how much a pain retraction with this array was on STS-116.... I think if we can avoid a full retraction, we should.

ApolloLee · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/30/2007 04:23 pm »

ApolloLee - 30/10/2007 1:18 PM

Some interesting foreboding in this very thread before this.... what did I say a few days ago about jinxing things?

"Rollout will be much easier - and it makes sense since the tension required to pull it out is much more painless than reeling it in and worrying about snags."

"Its deploying better than it did retracting. Looks great and hope 4B array does the same!"

"Outstanding. The 116 crew is probably sitting around, scratching their heads wondering 'Why didn't it work that well for us?'"

PSLoss: Wow -- so it's our fault, then, right?

No ... I blame Britney Spears.... Just cause...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/30/2007 04:25 pm »

Thanks David, I was starting to lose hair I don't have with the live thread.

psloss · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/30/2007 04:25 pm »

First us, then Britney...

ApolloLee · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/30/2007 04:25 pm »

So throw off your wild speculation... How is this fixed?

Not acceptable is saying "Have some Starfleet officers in suits beam to the position, fix it with dylithium crystals, then beam out."

Michael Z Freeman · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/30/2007 04:28 pm »

So, is the array foldable "blanket" replaceable ?

DJ Barney

stockman · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/30/2007 04:31 pm »

Quote

ApolloLee - 30/10/2007 1:25 PM

So throw off your wild speculation... How is this fixed?

Not acceptable is saying "Have some Starfleet officers in suits beam to the position, fix it with dylithium crystals, then beam out."

don't be ridiculous... everyone knows you can't use Dylithium to fix solar panels... geesh!!

semi-seriously however, the main question right now is can they leave the array in a half deployed position for any great length of time (ie after shuttle leaves). If not then I see only three possible options.

1) retract and hope/try to get it folded up into a safe config
2) somehow magically figure out how to free it and deploy nominally.
3) remove and eject that side of the solar blanket assembly (I am assuming here you can do that one side at a time without have to throw out the other side that is fully and correctly deployed).

ckiki lwai · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/30/2007 04:33 pm »

I think we will have a very interesting Mission Status Briefing over an hour.

Would they extend the mission even further, will they drop the SARJ inspection or will they leave the solar array alone.
Or do they have to do repairs to the shuttle because there was a MMOD hit?

DaveS · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/30/2007 04:37 pm »

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ckiki lwai - 30/10/2007 6:33 PM
Or do they have to do repairs to the shuttle because there was a MMOD hit?

It hasn't been confirmed that if it was a MMOD hit. Could be a thermal settling of the aluminium brackets on which the impact sensors are mounted on. They're not mounted directly onto the RCC panels but behind them.

Jorge · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/30/2007 04:42 pm »

Quote

ApolloLee - 30/10/2007 12:21 PM

NYC777 - 30/10/2007 10:18 AM

In my opinion the only way to fix this is to retract and have an EVA to cut the guide wire that hanging the array up. Either that or retract and then redeploy hoping that the wire will free itself.

Any one disagree?

Cutting the guide wire would be a big mistake.

punkboi · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/30/2007 04:42 pm »

*Sigh* Good luck and anything solar power-related just hasn't been going hand-in-hand with the ISS...

rdale · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/30/2007 04:53 pm »

Quote

ckiki lwai - 30/10/2007 1:33 PM

Or do they have to do repairs to the shuttle because there was a MMOD hit?

Stop the presses! When / where was a MMOD hit? What sort of damage did it cause?

Lee Jay · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/30/2007 04:56 pm »

Sorry, should have asked this here, I guess.

Could this location be reached using an EVA on the end of the OBSS on either of the arms?

stockman · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/30/2007 04:56 pm »

Quote

rdale - 30/10/2007 1:53 PM

Quote
ckiki lwai - 30/10/2007 1:33 PM

Or do they have to do repairs to the shuttle because there was a MMOD hit?

Stop the presses! When / where was a MMOD hit? What sort of damage did it cause?

Relax.. this was reported on L2 but they are not sure if it was a real MMOD hit or thermal issues that caused a reading. No panic here.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/30/2007 04:57 pm »

Quote

rdale - 30/10/2007 11:53 AM

Quote
ckiki lwai - 30/10/2007 1:33 PM

Or do they have to do repairs to the shuttle because there was a MMOD hit?

Stop the presses! When / where was a MMOD hit? What sort of damage did it cause?

The press already ran, and the article is on the front page.

ApolloLee · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/30/2007 05:00 pm »

Official logo for today's proceedings... Should be posted behind Shannon during MSB...

http://www.badastronomy.com/pix/bablog/2006/DontPanic.jpg">

ckiki lwai · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/30/2007 05:29 pm »

Could the P6 en P4 rotate with the P6 arrays not fully extracted?

bobthemonkey · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/30/2007 05:44 pm »

Don't believe so.

On the Solar blankets used on the SAW's, it the material resistant to rips. I.e. once a tear starts (as now) is it contained or will it continue across the panel. (Material science was a distant memory - I can't imagine EVA's needed to put a hole in the tear to stop the stress concentration.

ApolloLee · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/30/2007 05:46 pm »

Quote

ckiki lwai - 30/10/2007 11:29 AM

Could the P6 en P4 rotate with the P6 arrays not fully extracted?

Think so... We've already seen them rotate a bit in the last hour or so...

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/30/2007 05:53 pm »

Q: Asked early but no answer yet, can the one side be jettisoned or replaced? Is there any kind of flight spare (understanding that this has huge implications for manifest etc?)

(Perhaps this should be the first question.) Does anyone with ISS experience have a gut feel for whether this is repairable or is it FUBAR?