Powering The Space Station

A FULLY POWERED SPACE STATION

Astronauts aboard the linked space shuttle and space station began a two-day job that will culminate with the installation of the last component of the orbiting outpost’s power grid. This is how it will be done: ISS robotic arm S6 Truss

Space Shuttle’s robotic arm S6 Truss

From arm to arm

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Yesterday, the shuttle’s robotic arm unoaded the S6 truss from it’s cargo bay. The space station’s robotioc maneuvered to a point where it could reach and grab the component.

Solar array deployment

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Later in the mission astronauts astronauts will unfurl the wing-like solar arrays, each 115 feet long, of the S6 truss component.

Backbone The 11-segment truss holds the station’s power grid. Once finished it will span more than 300 feet.

Full capacity

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S6 Truss array is the fourth and last set that powers the Space Station. Once this last component is online the outpost’s power grid will generate enough electricity to power 42 average sized homes.

Columbus

Fully deployed S6 Truss solar array

Source: NASA

ALBERTO CUADRA : C H R O N I C L E