Will Try One Last Time To Retract Stubborn Array

The STS-116 crew spent Sunday preparing for the fourth spacewalk of its mission, to complete the retraction of the P6 solar array aboard the International Space Station. The extra spacewalk is scheduled for Monday, and was authorized by NASA over the weekend.

The decision comes after progress was made in retracting the array during Saturday’s excursion. Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams assisted in the process by shaking the array wing -- which did help flight controllers retract more of the array.

"This is definitely the right approach," Expedition 14 commander Mike Lopez-Alegria told mission controllers. "I think we are starting to get there."

NASA reports 11 of the array's 21 bays remain unfurled. Prior to Saturday's efforts, 17 remained unfurled. The two astronauts' efforts were suspended when the oxygen and battery power levels in their spacesuits ran low.

Curbeam and Mission Specialist Christer Fuglesang will resume the shaking activities during the spacewalk, slated to begin at 1:47 pm EST Monday. The spacewalk will be Curbeam’s fourth during the mission, and Fuglesang’s third.

Sunday's preparations included flight controllers finalizing the spacewalk’s timeline, which were then reviewed by the crew. The crew will also prepare tools and spacesuits for the excursion. Curbeam and Fuglesang will complete the day’s preparations by spending the night in the Quest Airlock for the pre-spacewalk campout.

With the added spacewalk, the STS-116 crew’s stay at the station has been extended to Tuesday. Undocking is now set for 5:09 pm, with landing at Kennedy Space Center now targeted for 3:55 pm Friday -- 24 hours later than originally planned.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/shuttle