It's easier to install solar panels on Earth, but what about in space? Such "high-altitude" work is not something that ordinary people can do. From June to July 2021, European Space Agency and NASA astronauts Thomas and Shane, who installed a new type of solar panel array wing for the International Space Station, risked three spacewalks that cost nearly It took 6 and a half hours to finally complete the installation task. In this process, two astronauts on the International Space Station are also required to assist.
If you have seen photos of the International Space Station, then you must have noticed the 8 pairs of golden structures, which are the solar panel array wings of the International Space Station. The earliest of these array wings has been in use since 2000, and has exceeded its 15-year design life. Although it can still be used, it has experienced different degrees of aging, and replacement naturally needs to be scheduled. Astronauts are scheduled to install three pairs of new solar panel array wings on the International Space Station, with the remaining two pairs scheduled to be deployed in 2022.
However, the solar panel array of the International Space Station is not a "big replacement", but a "new force" to add new solar panels to 6 of the original 8 power channels, so that the old and new solar panels can be combined. It is estimated that when the old and new arrays are used in series, the power supplied to the International Space Station will increase by 20 to 30 percent.
The newly deployed solar panel array wings were successfully deployed.
Array of solar panels deployed in a factory
Solar panel array loaded into the cabin of a SpaceX cargo spacecraft
With the help of robotic arms, astronauts are installing solar panel arrays at designated locations.
Thomas is moving the solar panel array to the designated installation location. This process requires astronauts on the International Space Station to operate a robotic arm to assist in completing it.
Two astronauts carry new solar panels rolled up to the mount.
The task of installing the new solar panels took three spacewalks to complete, and this is the second spacewalk astronaut Thomas is about to leave the capsule for.
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