spacetoday.net: Solar panel repair set for Saturday

Posted: Fri, Nov 2, 2007, 7:35 AM ET (1135 GMT)
STS-120: solar panel repair EVA illus. (NASA)

NASA will attempt on Saturday to repair a torn solar panel on the International Space Station during what is considered a potentially hazardous EVA. During the spacewalk astronaut Scott Parazynski will stand at the end of a boom attached to the station's arm to reach the damaged panel on the P6 truss segment. He will then install several makeshift "cufflinks" to stabilize the array and allow it to fully extend safely. The spacewalk is not without risk to Parazynski since there is still power going though the array, raising the risk of electrocution, but NASA officials believe the need to repair the panel outweighs any additional risks posed by this unusual spacewalk.