![]() After about 12 minutes, when the array was fully deployed, Hoburg tightened two final bolts to tension it. Hoburg photographed the issue for further study, but it is not expected to affect the performance of the array. The potential energy stored by the rolled-up carbon composite booms caused the array to unroll on its own to its full length, with no motor needed.ĭuring the rollout, a triangular panel on the array appeared to have become snagged such that it didn't lie flat. Once out of Earth's shadow, Hoburg released two bolts allowing the iROSA to unfurl. These arrays, which would be the seventh and eighth to be installed, are targeted for delivery to the orbiting laboratory in the 2025 timeframe. NASA and Boeing have a plan for a fourth set of roll-out arrays to further augment the International Space Station's power supply. It has taken two years - less one day - to deploy all six iROSA assemblies, with the first unfurled on June 16, 2021. NASA graphic showing the location of the fifth and sixth International Space Station (ISS) Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) that were installed and deployed by Expedition 69 crewmates Warren "Woody" Hoburg and Stephen Bowen during two spacewalks on Friday, June 9 and Thursday, June 15, 2023, respectively. As each produces more than 20 kilowatts of electricity, with six new arrays installed, the station is now capable of a 30% increase in power production over the station's legacy arrays alone. When unfurled, each overlays its corresponding legacy solar array by a little more than a half. They were then ready to deploy the wing.Įach iROSA is 60 feet long by 20 feet wide (18.2 meters by 6 meters). Once the station was in eclipse, Hoburg and Bowen set to work connecting cables to the new array assembly. The hold was to ensure the legacy IB solar array was not generating power when work began to tie the new iROSA into the power channel. The spacewalkers then took a break from working on the array's installation to get ahead on cleaning up their worksites as they waited for the space station to move into Earth's shadow. Hoburg and Bowen then drove bolts to secure the array to the station before releasing the hinges that held the iROSA in its folded launch configuration. The duo then took turns holding onto the iROSA as they aligned it with its mounting bracket, a triangular attach point that was assembled and installed on a previous spacewalk. Follow Expedition 69 crewmate Stephen Bowen can be seen preparing the array's mounting bracket just below during the spacewalk on Thursday, June 15, 2023. NASA astronaut Warren "Woody" Hoburg (at center, partially obscured but with red stripes on his suit's legs) holds onto an International Space Station (ISS) Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) while riding at the end of the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm.
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