Panel Tear, Defective Joint Causing Headaches

Saying they need more time to work out a plan to deal with not one but two power issues at the International Space Station, mission managers at NASA postponed plans for a fourth spacewalk Wednesday.

As ANN reported, that spacewalk -- planned for Thursday -- was to address issues with a malfunctioning joint on one of the solar wings on the starboard side of the station. If that weren't a big enough problem, however, NASA also discovered this week one of those panels has a significant tear on it, reducing its power generating abilities.

The next spacewalk will be Friday at the earliest, reports The Associated Press. The shuttle Discovery is scheduled to undock from the ISS Monday... meaning NASA is under the gun to fit the missions' five planned spacewalks in.

NASA may chose to extend the mission a second time; the space agency already added an extra day to it earlier this week. And there remains the possibility an unprecedented sixth spacewalk would be added.

"I think we're kind of in the groove right now, so if the ground decides that's the right thing to do and they ask us to do it, we'll be ready to support it," shuttle commander Pamela Melroy said.

Between the defective joint and the torn solar panel, the station currently cannot generate enough power to support additional equipment, such as the ESA Columbus science lab set for launch onboard Atlantis in December. A delay to that mission would create a domino effect throughout subsequent launches, adding further pressure to the hard deadline for shuttle retirement in 2010.

As of now, NASA has not been able to determine what caused the solar wing to tear, despite analyzing several hundred photos of it. Astronaut Daniel Tani said he also noticed a second, smaller tear near the primary 2 1/2 foot rip.

"Until we know what we think the cause is, maybe until we get some better pictures, I don't think we really have any solid leads on how to fix it yet," space station flight director Heather Rarick said.

Despite the damage, the ripped panel is reportedly producing 97 percent of anticipated power, according to Florida Today. The tear did not cut through any power transmission lines.

FMI: www.nasa.gov