[sarex] Station to Get New Piece

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468


*Station to Get New Piece; Astronauts to Go Spacewalking*

The on-orbit construction of the International Space Station resumes 
today with the attachment of the P3/P4 integrated truss structure and a 
spacewalk by STS-115 astronauts. The STS-115 and Expedition 13 crew 
members will use the station’s robotic arm to attach the 17.5-ton 
structure to the P1 at 4 a.m. EDT. (0800 UTC)

Then at 5:15 a.m., STS-115 Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie 
Stefanyshyn-Piper are slated to begin the first of three spacewalks to 
outfit and prepare the P3/P4 truss, which contains a set of solar 
arrays, for operation. The new truss will provide power, data and 
communication services for the station. The arrays will be unfurled to a 
full length of 240 feet on Thursday and will eventually double the 
station’s power capabilities.

During today’s spacewalk, the Tanner and Piper will install power and 
data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar 
array deployment.

The excursion is scheduled to last 6 hours and 20 minutes. Mission 
Specialist Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams 
will operate the station robotic arm. Mission Specialist Dan Burbank 
will coordinate the spacewalk activities.