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Author
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Topic: STS-120: Tear in solar array
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 06:31 AM
   
Tani has begun moving the station's robotic arm with the orbiter boom and spacewalker Scott Parazynski in tow, translating toward the site of the damaged array.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 06:41 AM
quote:
Originally posted by fireflyer21:
Those in the southeastern US should get a good visual pass of the station/shuttle in the next 15 minutes, around 6:40 am central.
Saw it! Really impressive, especially when you consider what is going on in space at the moment its passing overhead... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 06:44 AM
The view from Discovery's payload bay...  Parazynski reporting tremendous views from his perspective. "Words can't do it justice... at least not mine," he said. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 06:51 AM
 And the view from Parazynski's helmet cam...  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 06:59 AM
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NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 11-03-2007 06:59 AM
I hope the pics he's taking turn out. Amazing!!!! |
fireflyer21
Member Posts: 35
From: Evansville, IN
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 11-03-2007 07:00 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Saw it! Really impressive, especially when you consider what is going on in space at the moment its passing overhead...
I saw it for about 30 seconds. Not the longest pass ever, but I agree that it was extra special.Those helmet cam views are amazing! Chris |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:02 AM
First view of the solar array...  |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 11-03-2007 07:11 AM
Did I hear that right? Did COL Melroy call the camera a POS?  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:12 AM
Upon his first view of the damage site, Parazynski reported that the hinge "runs intact.""Hinge damage is isolated to the inboard side and extends halfway between the middle guide wire and out to the inboard edge." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:19 AM
 Parazynski confirmed that the flat circuit connector, the array's power line, is intact. "The FCC does look intact, miraculously, at both damage sites." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by NavySpaceFan:
Did COL Melroy call the camera a POS?
She said WVS = Wireless Video System. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:26 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:40 AM
 STS-120 commander Pam Melroy summarized Parazynski's report of the damage: "Both hinge wires from the large and the small damage site, the guide wire and one or more grommets all knotted together." "That appears to be what happened here," replied Parazynski. "It sounds like you have some surgery to do, Dr. Parazynski," said Melroy. "I think so. I think the patient is prepped," Parazynski confirmed.   Tani and Stephanie Wilson are now moving Parazynski closer to the array to begin repairs, beginning with the installation of the number 3 cufflink. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 11-03-2007 07:41 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
She said WVS = Wireless Video System.
Just re-wound my TiVo, in reference to the camera, she said: "Put the Papa Oscar Sierra on top the krulac (sp?) bag." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:47 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:50 AM
Parazynski is now positioned near the first workstation and is preparing to install the first cufflink (no. 3):  |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 11-03-2007 07:53 AM
The first cufflink seems to fit, I am impressed.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:56 AM
 "Peggy and Zambo, nice handiwork!" radioed Parazynski of Whitson's and Zamka's preparation of the hinge stabilizers, a.k.a. "cufflinks". "Yeah, that was a really nice job, it took them all day," replied Melroy, "and now they will be out there forever, which is kind of fun." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 07:58 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:02 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:05 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:10 AM
The first cufflink (no. 3, see chart on previous page) is now installed.  Tani is now moving Parazynski closer to the tangled guide wire(s) and grommet(s), where an attempt will be made to clear the snag, if not cut the frayed wire clear. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 11-03-2007 08:10 AM
I loved Wheel's comment just now:"Do you need a moist towelette doctor?"  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:17 AM
"Now, do you see a lot of loose hinge wire kind of curling around there?" asked Melroy."I think that's not hinge wire, I think that is the guide wire that has become frayed. It's almost like it's been stripped," replied Parazynski. "Oh, wow!" Melroy exclaimed. "That's really frayed."  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:21 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:30 AM
 Parazynski is preparing to trim one of the frayed hinge wires near the large tear. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:37 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:45 AM
"Okay, it is cut," reported Parazynski, referring to the hinge wire, "and it's really slick. The grommet is retaining the hinge wire. The panel did fold back as we anticipated. No contact with me. There is about 8 inches remaining outside of the hinge doubler and it's pointed up towards me, so I have really easy access to it with my vice grips."  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 08:48 AM
 With the hinge wire cleared, Parazynski has now turned his focus to cutting a snagged guide wire. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:04 AM
"Houston, do we have a go to cut the guide wire?" radioed Melroy."Discovery, you have a go to cut the guide wire," replied capcom Steve Swanson.  "A bit of a reach here," Parazynski said while attempting to cut the wire. "That's what those monkey arms are for," replied Melroy, referring to Scott "Longbow" Parazynski's long arms. "Not too many people in the [astronaut] office could do what you are doing today, Scott." "3, 2, 1, snip," reported Parazynski. "Okay, it's retracting," said Wheelock, "nicely done." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:20 AM
After cutting the guide wire, Parazynski summarized the status of the snag:"We have a segment of about 15 inches of guide wire with two hinge wire segments still attached to it. Obviously, the first one we have already cut out, so there is a grommet with perhaps four to five inches of hinge pin associated with it. Below that is a significant fray of wire, several jumbled pieces of wire, so it's not going anywhere off of that side of it." "At the small damage site, the guide wire is still trapped in the grommet with a fray. I could try to work it out with vice grips and the hockey stick and see if I could free it, that would be my next best choice, or I could just trim the pieces off of this grommet, but I think we are done here." Flight controllers responded that trimming was the way to go. "It will look good in a shadow box someday," joked Parazynski, referring to the wires. "Okay, will do!" With the trimming complete, Parazynski proceeded with installing the second cufflink. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:25 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:28 AM
Four hours and 24 minutes into today's spacewalk, Parazynski has installed two (numbers 3 and 1) of the five cufflinks, and is now proceeding with the shorter no. 2 cufflink installation. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:36 AM
Cufflink no. 2 is now installed.    |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:38 AM
Three down, two to go: next cufflink in work...  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:43 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:48 AM
Four cufflinks installed, one to go, and then the array will be deployed...    |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:55 AM
All five cufflinks installed!   |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-03-2007 09:57 AM
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