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Astronauts Fix Solar Panel

They complete risky mission on international space station

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 3, 2007 11:45 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Two astronauts fixed the broken solar panel on the international space station today in one of the riskiest spacewalks ever undertaken, the AP reports. Scott Parazynski installed a brace and fixed snarled wires on the highly electrified panel, which then unfurled to its full length. "Excellent work guys, excellent," said the space station commander.

Parazynski and fellow astronaut Douglas Wheelock undertook the mission because the newly installed solar panel—critical to the future of the space station—encountered a snag on Thursday. "What a relief," said Parazynski, who completed the far-from-home-improvement while perched atop a 90-foot robotic arm. He and the rest of Discovery's crew are scheduled to return to earth on Wednesday.

In this image provided by NASA television, astronaut Scott Parazynski works with wires near the damaged section of solar array Saturday Nov. 3, 2007 during a lengthy spacewalk outside the international space station. (AP Photo/NASA)
In this image provided by NASA television, astronaut Scott Parazynski works with wires near the damaged section of solar array Saturday Nov. 3, 2007 during a lengthy spacewalk outside the international...   (Associated Press)
In this image provided by NASA television, astronaut Scott Parazynski returns his tools to his toolbox, center, near the completion of a lengthy spacewalk outside the international space station, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, to repair damage to its solar array, background. (AP Photo/NASA)
In this image provided by NASA television, astronaut Scott Parazynski returns his tools to his toolbox, center, near the completion of a lengthy spacewalk outside the international space station, Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
In this image provided by NASA television astronaut Scott Parazynski works on the end of the 90-foot robotic arm and boom extension, center, which will carry him for a 45-minute ride to the damage site at the start of the space walk to repair the damaged solar array Saturday Nov....
In this image provided by NASA television astronaut Scott Parazynski works on the end of the 90-foot robotic arm and boom extension, center, which will carry him for a 45-minute ride to the damage site...   (Associated Press)
In this image provided by NASA television astronaut Scott Parazynski inserts a wire near the damaged area of solar array Saturday Nov. 3, 2007 during a spacewalk outside the international space station to repair the array. (AP Photo/NASA)
In this image provided by NASA television astronaut Scott Parazynski inserts a wire near the damaged area of solar array Saturday Nov. 3, 2007 during a spacewalk outside the international space station...   (Associated Press)
This image provided by NASA television shows a closeup of the damaged section of the international space station's solar array, triangle upper left, as astronaut Scott Parazynski, whose hand is at lower right, works to repair the array during a lengthy spacewalk Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA)
This image provided by NASA television shows a closeup of the damaged section of the international space station's solar array, triangle upper left, as astronaut Scott Parazynski, whose hand is at lower...   (Associated Press)
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space shuttle • International Space Station • spacewalk • Scott Parazynski • solar panel

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