Seven hours outside the station... to install its new solar wing
Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk complete the installation of the eighth solar array after seven hours outside the station.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
On the robotic arm “Canadarm2,” astronaut Anil Menon carried a solar array to its installation site outside the International Space Station, while his Canadian colleague Joshua Kutryk moved across the station’s structure to participate in the mission.
After approximately seven hours, a five-year power upgrade was completed.
NASA announced that the two astronauts spent six hours and 59 minutes outside the station on Thursday, November 5, installing the eighth and final set of new deployable solar arrays, then deploying them to begin capturing sunlight.
According to the agency, work to enhance the power generation system began in February 2021 and required 18 spacewalks to prepare equipment and install the eight arrays.
Collectively, these additions increase power generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
The new arrays are mounted above sections of the original panels, whose efficiency had declined over the years.
The final mission was not without difficulties; the team encountered a temporary power flow issue while connecting cables, which was resolved before work was completed, according to SpaceQ, the Canadian space-focused website.
