I am having visions of Hubble's old solar panels on ISS

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willpittenger

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Does everyone remember how troublesome Hubble's original solar panels where? One failed to roll up. That forced the astronaut to discard it in orbit.<br /><br />Now, ISS's solar panel won't retract. (See the article at CNN: Pesky panels foil NASA's finest.)<br /><br />Can ISS crew move the panel to its permement position in its current partially collapsed state without damaging it? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>
 
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mah_fl

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I think it just needs someone to poke the panels with a stick, or maybe a hand..., and they'll fold and retract ok.
 
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elguapoguano

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<font color="yellow">I think it just needs someone to poke the panels with a stick, or maybe a hand..., and they'll fold and retract ok.</font><br />Funny you said that, when I looked at the picture of the "mis fold" that is the first thing I thought of as well. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#ff0000"><u><em>Don't let your sig line incite a gay thread ;>)</em></u></font> </div>
 
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mrmorris

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<font color="orange">"I think it just needs someone to poke the panels with a stick, or maybe a hand..., and they'll fold and retract ok. "</font><br /><font color="yellow">"Funny you said that, when I looked at the picture of the "mis fold" that is the first thing I thought of as well. "</font><br /><br />And so Space Age Man and Stone Age Man meet in harmonious accord.<br /><br /><i><b>Ugh!</b> Nog no like shiny thing not move! Nog... poke with stick! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /></i>
 
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erioladastra

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<br />With HST it was the case that the bistems were bent. Here we don't see that as the case - looks more like the tension wires are not apply enough tension but folsk are analyzing.<br /><br />No, it is not likely that it can be relocated like this - however, if it comes down to jettison or relocate like that folks will look loooong and hard at the options. Would seriously impact ops and delay the international modules if we don't have it there.
 
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willpittenger

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I was talked about tossing overboard only because that was how they dispossed of the Hubble array. It would be a problem for ISS as they are supposed to reattach it elsewhere.<br /><br />Can the crew even move it safely in its current configuration? When was that move scheduled? Was the presence of an orbiter crew required for that move? (If so, I assume it would be so that those moving the array would have practiced specifically on that move for sometime prior to launch. ISS crews, by definition, must be generalists.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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If a process with plenty of safety margin available can be designed, it could be part of a get ahead task? I'm speaking of assisting the retraction i.e. "helping to fold the map" in order to get it fully retracted. Perhaps on this mission?<br />Or perhaps it's just better to wait for the next when well thought out and tested procedures can be developed?<br /><br />Just speculation at this point. I'm sure the engineers are working the problem as hard as they can. We'll have to see what they come up with in the next day or two.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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I didn't know that such an EVA was in the works for the station crew. Thanx for enlightening me (us?)<br /><br />That makes it a no brainer, unless the engineers really hit the jackpot. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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erioladastra

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"In my opinion the EVA to assist the retraction should be a ISS crew EVA after the Orbiter leaves. This would alow the procedures to be fine tuned (They already had a EVA to assist as an option.) Inaddition I see no reason to extend the mission for this issue since the P6 array is OK as it is for now. "<br /><br />Well stage might be an option but it is better with the orbiter there. You have more people and the EVA folks have trained some on the arrays. During the stage you would have two guys out and one controller the arm (normally takes two) - we are not ready for that yet. Actually, if they add a day to the mission to do it, we might have to eat into the weather delay pad so there is a chance we could land at Edwards. Or tasks may be deleted from EVA 3 to do this instead. But things are so tightly scheduled any delay in EVA or moving to the stage would be a huge impact. While I sympathize, it may make more sense to fix now.
 
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erioladastra

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" didn't know that such an EVA was in the works for the station crew. Thanx for enlightening me (us?) "<br /><br />it is an OPTION not a decision...
 
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willpittenger

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What is involved in moving P6? Can they do it all from inside? Or do latches and/or bolts need to be manually undone? What about installation of that window that is coming? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>
 
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erioladastra

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" it might be better as a 'future' operation? <br />"<br /><br />There is a time limit - either you have to show Soyuz/Progress dock/undock are no issues or fix soon.
 
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erioladastra

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"What is involved in moving P6?"<br /><br />grabbing with the SSRMS, disconnecting it (EVA), translating on the MT, installing and reconnecting (EVA).
 
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erioladastra

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"The STS-117 crew is at KSC for a few days. They said they would like to get a 4th EVA <br />To work on the P6 array. To me an additional EVA on STS-117 makes more sense than extending this mission for the array fix attempt. "<br /><br />I bet they are <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />. Ironically, they have been lobbying for other activities on their flight - they can't have it all. But seriously, they are very late in their training (of course ahead of those on orbit for this task) and any changes to the 13A flight would have serious impacts to assembly and planned operations for the next 9 months. WIll be an interesting MMT.
 
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erioladastra

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"Ammonia? The panels double as radiators?"<br /><br />No, but there are readiators on the truss segment. There are also data connectors as well.
 
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tronchaser

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They use the ammonia to regulate heat in the Station. That is where the radiators are for.
 
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erioladastra

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"I know that. What suprised me what that ammonia lines run to the solar panels. Read my post more carefully. "<br /><br />They do NOT, read my response more carefully. The ammonia goes no where near the panels. They go through the truss thru the Thermal radiator Rotary Joint (TRRJ) to the radiators - totally different panel that sticks out from the truss.
 
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erioladastra

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Sorry, I don't know what flake means or rolling sails so I can't comment directly. Memory is not an issue but low tension on the lines mainly. That is a design issue. Do you mean rolling as literally roll up? Not sure solar cells with these characteristics can roll at all.
 
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