On Oct. 29, NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk spent seven hours and 11 minutes installing the International Space Station’s seventh of eight new roll-out solar arrays.
The spacewalk also marked the 100th U.S. spacewalk from the station. The spacewalk began at 7:57 a.m. EDT and ended at 3:08 p.m. The astronauts worked on the station’s 2A electrical power channel.
They secured the new panel in front of an original solar wing on the station’s left-side truss. The panel added capacity to a power system whose older arrays have become less effective over time. NASA says all eight new arrays together could increase available power by up to 30 percent, from about 160 kilowatts to 215 kilowatts.
The new array is expected to support station operations, including a safe, controlled descent out of orbit. Menon completed his fourth spacewalk. Kutryk completed his first.
They also prepared equipment for the final installation. It is planned for a Nov. 5 spacewalk on the station’s 3B power channel. Once the eighth array is installed, the station’s solar-power upgrade will be complete.