STS-116 Mission Updates: Part 3

by Space.com, staff

Date: 17 December 2006 Time: 02:00 AM ET

16 December 2006 11:00 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams have officially concluded the third spacewalk of the joint mission between the International Space Station and the Discovery shuttle.

A fourth spacewalk is set for Monday and will feature additional troubleshooting work to retract a stubborn solar array outside atop the space station's mast-like Port 6 truss.

Total spacewalking time for today's activity: seven hours, 31 minutes.

Curbeam and Williams achieved all of their primary tasks, which included completing work to rewire the space station's power grid, delivering a set of debris panels to a storage area for later installation on the orbital lab, and the attachment of a grapple bar that will help future spacewalkers lug unwieldy equipment to various worksites.

The spacewalk's highlight, however, featured repeated attempts to loose guide wire snags on the troublesome P6 truss solar array, which extends over the space station port - or left - side.

A wrap up of today's spacewalking activities outside the ISS will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage following NASA's mission status briefing set to begin no earlier than 11:00 p.m. EST (0400 GMT).

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Back Inside ISS Airlock

16 December 2006 9:53 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are back inside the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after more than seven hours of spacewalking work outside the orbital laboratory.

The are preparing to end today's spacewalk, which achieved all of its primary tasks along with extra work to help furl a stubborn solar array atop the station's Port 6 truss.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers to Head Back to Airlock after Solar Array Shakes

16 December 2006 9:38 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Time has run out in today's attempts to retract a troublesome solar array outside the International Space Station (ISS), and two spacewalkers are headed back to the orbital laboratory's Quest airlock.

Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams accomplished all of their planned tasks, including the successful completion of a two-part overhaul of the station's power grid, before working on the solar array.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

More ISS Solar Array Shaking Underway

16 December 2006 9:11 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts working outside and inside the International Space Station are taking a shake and retract approach to a troublesome solar array atop the outpost's mast-like truss.

Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams have shaken their respective sides of the portside solar wing on the station's Port 6 truss, with apparently favorable results. They are running out of time though. Flight controllers have given the astronauts until the end of the current daylight pass before heading back inside the station's airlock.

"This is definitely the right approach," space station commander Michael Lopez-Alegria told Mission Control. "I think we're definitely going to get there."

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

ISS Solar Array Retracted Slightly

16 December 2006 8:47 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - After a whole lot of shaking, astronauts retracted a troublesome array just slightly atop the Port 6 mast of the International Space Station. The array folded in as designed as it retracted one segment of its 31-bay mast.

"It's coming in," STS-116 spacewalker, Robert "Beamer" Curbeam said.

"It definitely looks better than it did before," STS-116 commander Mark Polansky added.

Curbeam shook array again in preparation for additional retraction activities.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

After Two Shakes, ISS Solar Array Retraction on Tap

16 December 2006 8:42 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - After two solar array shakes by spacewalker Robert "Beamer" Curbeam, flight controllers are gearing up to retract a the stubborn solar wing.

It appears that most, if not all, of the solar arrays are in good shape.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Array Retraction Planned After Another Spacewalker Shake

16 December 2006 8:30 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Space station flight controllers have asked spacewalker Robert "Beamer" Curbeam to perform one more of what they now call a "Beamer shake" of a stubborn solar array atop the International Space Station.

Following the shake, past attempts of which yielded favorable results on stuck guide wires, astronauts aboard the station will attempt to retract the solar array for no more than one section of its 31-piece mast.

Today's spacewalk has passed the four-hour mark. Curbeam and his spacewalking partner Sunita Williams are prepared to spend seven hours working outside the space station in their NASA spacesuits.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Array Shakes Produce Some Effects, Retraction Considered

16 December 2006 8:00 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Additional solar array shaking by veteran spacewalker Robert Curbeam appear to be having some effect on stubborn guide wires is sticking to metal grommets they thread through.

"Beamer, you've been amazingly effective," NASA astronaut Steve Robinson told Curbeam.

ISS flight controllers are considering a renewed attempt to retract the solar array, which extends towards the port from the space station's mast-like Port 6 truss. The astronauts will wait until the next daylight pass of the ISS for any more work.

"It really looks like that last push did a lot of good," Discovery shuttle commander Mark Polansky reported.

Curbeam and fellow spacewalker Sunita Williams now have about a half hour of free time ahead of them as the ISS passes over the Earth's night side.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Pushes on Stubborn Solar Array

16 December 2006 7:43 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Veteran spacewalker Robert Curbeam has made two attempts to shake loose a series of stuck folds on a stubborn solar array.

He has reported a group of folds that appear to be stuck fast. Curbeam made two pushes five cycles each.

"They're kind of just stacked together at a weird angle, where it like they're going to be together forever," Curbeam said.

Aboard the space shuttle Discovery, astronauts reported that the stalled folds on the array still appear to be stuck, but that Curbeam's efforts did not make the situation worse.

ISS flight controllers are discussing what next steps to take.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Examine ISS Solar Array Boxes

16 December 2006 7:30 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are examining the storage boxes at the base of a stubborn solar array on the mast-like Port 6 truss rising up above the International Space Station (ISS).

The have reported seeing the guide wires, which appear to be fine, and are taking a close look at tension bars and other equipment on the boxes the solar array's panels are designed to fold into.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers to Nudge Stubborn Solar Array

16 December 2006 7:13 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are ascending the International Space Station's mast-like Port 6 truss to reach a troublesome, half-furled solar array.

They are expected to inspect the beleaguered array, which has failed to fold up properly in its storage box. The astronauts are also prepared to nudge the array slightly in hopes to free what ISS flight controllers believe is the problem: a guide wire snagged on the grommets it threads through.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Array Troubleshooting on Tap for Spacewalkers

16 December 2006 6:46 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Mission Control has alerted Discovery's STS-116 crew that spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are sufficiently ahead of schedule to attempt troubleshooting work on a stubborn solar array in hopes of jostling a stuck guide wire loose.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Array Troubleshooting on Tap for Spacewalkers

16 December 2006 6:46 p.m. EST

A fourth spacewalk, if needed, has been approved for the solar array task.

Before attempting that, however, the astronauts must mount a grapple bar to the station's exterior.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Camera Escapes from Spacewalker Outside ISS

16 December 2006 6:37 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has lost a digital camera that apparently slipped free from its supporting bracket.

The camera could be seen drifting away from Williams after she had left her previous perch at the end of the space shuttle Discovery's robotic arm.

Williams and spacewalker Robert Curbeam are more than four hours into today's spacewalk to rewire the ISS power grid. The astronauts have successfully performed that task, temporarily stowed a set of debris panels on the station and have one or two remaining primary tasks to go before heading up to a balky solar array if time allows.

Earlier today, mission managers approved plans for a fourth spacewalk to address the solar array, which has been stuck mid-retraction since Wednesday, if today's troubleshooting work is not performed or fails to do the trick.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Fourth Spacewalk Approved as Astronauts Work Outside ISS

16 December 2006 6:09 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are about 30 minutes ahead of schedule in today's spacewalk, originally the third planned excursion for Discovery's shuttle crew. Earlier today, mission managers approved a fourth spacewalk, likely to be performed by Curbeam and fellow STS-116 astronaut Christer Fuglesang, to help retract a stubborn solar array outside the International Space Station.

Curbeam and Williams are due to inspect, and gently nudge, the solar array atop the station's Port 6 truss later in today's six-hour spacewalk, which began at 2:25 p.m. EST (1925 GMT).

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Fourth Spacewalk Approved, Spacewalkers Retrieve ISS "Christmas Tree"

16 December 2006 5:42 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Flight controllers have approved plans for a fourth spacewalk during the STS-116 mission to tackle a stubborn solar array at the International Space Station, if needed

"We are go for EVA 4," Mission Control told Discovery's STS-116 astronaut crew.

The spacewalk, which would be dedicated to aiding the retraction of a stubborn solar array atop the station's Port 6 truss, would occur on Monday. The spacewalk would be added if an extra task to today's planned spacewalk to gentle nudge the array is not completed or fails to aid the retraction process.

Meanwhile, spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams have retrieved a set of debris panel arrangement affectionately dubbed the "Christmas Tree" from the space shuttle Discovery's payload bay.

"Merry Christmas," Williams told Curbeam as she accept the debris panels, which are arranged in small stacks around a central column.

The spacewalkers will deliver the debris panels in a temporary position on the ISS exterior, where the will be later retrieved and installed on the station's Zvezda service module later next year.

The debris panel task is the second of three planned chores for today's orbital work. The third includes adding a grapple bar to a spare parts platform outside the ISS.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Tackle Debris Shield Transfer Task

16 December 2006 5:18 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Spacewalking astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are tackling their second primary goal for today's extravehicular activity: the transfer of a set of debris panels from Discovery's payload bay to a storage point on the International Space Station.

The debris panels will be installed on the exterior of the station's Russian segments to protect against damage from micrometeorites and other orbital debris.

The astronauts are nearing the halfway mark of today's planned six-hour spacewalk, which began at 2:25 p.m. EST (1925 GMT).

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

ISS Power Grid Overhaul a Success, Spacewalk Continues

16 December 2006 4:48 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Mission Control has informed spacewalking astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams that their efforts to complete rewiring the International Space Station's (ISS) power grid and activate its primary cooling system has been a success.

No repairs or hardware replacements will be required for the job, which has now put the ISS on a permanent power system that will feed station systems for the remainder of the outpost's operations. The work clears the way for additional solar arrays, larger crews and new laboratories to launch towards the ISS in upcoming years.

Curbeam and Williams are now working to move a set of orbital debris panels from the shuttle Discovery's payload bay to a storage position between ISS modules.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Complete ISS Rewiring Work

16 December 2006 4:18 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams have completed their primary rewiring tasks outside the International Space Station (ISS) and given flight controllers the go ahead to once more power up the orbital laboratory.

Flight controllers have confirmed the power system overhaul was successful.

"That is beautiful," Curbeam said.

The call came about one hour and 46 into today's planned six-hour spacewalk. Curbeam and Williams have taken one minute longer to complete the task than a previous Thursday spacewalk, which ended a full hour early due to the speedy spacewalkers.

Up next for the astronauts is the installation of an apropos "Christmas Tree" of debris panels at a storage location on the station's Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 (PMA-3). Williams and Curbeam will retrieve the debris panels from the payload of the Discovery shuttle, with Williams then carrying them into place at the end of the orbiter's robotic arm.

Inside Discovery, pilot William Oefelein is choreographing today's spacewalk, with fellow STS-116 astronaut Nicholas Patrick, who will wield the orbiter's robotic arm during the activity.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Rewire ISS Power Cables
16 December 2006 3:46 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are moving ahead in their work to complete rewiring the International Space Station (ISS).

Curbeam has completed his tasks inside the station's girder-like truss and has pulled himself out to another worksite.

Williams is removing a series of circuit breakers that will no longer be required by the end of today's spacewalk. Much of the hardware to be activated in today's spacewalk has lain dormant for an extended amount of time.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Power Grid Overhaul Continues in ISS Spacewalk
16 December 2006 3:20 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are steadfastly working their rewiring duties outside the International Space Station (ISS).

Unlike Thursday's spacewalk, which also featured rewiring tasks, live video is available through much of today's spacewalk, returning stunning views of the astronauts as they work in space some 220 miles above Earth.

Curbeam has entered the space station's girder-like main truss to work with connection cables while Williams handles her own connection tasks.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Exit ISS Airlock, Begin Rewiring Work
16 December 2006 2:51 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are working outside the International Space Station (ISS) to complete rewiring work outside the orbital laboratory.

The spacewalk marks the first spacewalk for Williams and the sixth for Curbeam.

"Welcome to the club, Suni," Curbeam told Williams as she floated feet first out of the station's Quest airlock.

Up first for the spacewalking duo is a planned 90-minute job to complete an ISS power system overhaul by rewiring the outpost's power channels 1 and 4. Channels 2 and 3 were rewired in a successful Thursday spacewalk.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Begin Spacewalk to Rewire ISS
16 December 2006 2:26 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - The third spacewalk of NASA's STS-116 mission has officially begun for astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Official start time: 2:25 p.m. EST (1925 GMT), or about 15 minutes early.

"Looks like it's dark out there," said Williams as she and Curbeam opened the outer hatch of the space station's Quest airlock.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Depressurize ISS Airlock
16 December 2006 2:00 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Curbeam and Sunita Williams are depressurizing the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in preparation to begin today's planned six-hour spacewalk.

The spacewalkers are expected to rewire the second half of the space station's power grid, deliver a set of debris panels to station and install a spare grapple tool to the outpost's exterior. Time permitting, they will also climb to the highest point of the ISS and nudge a balky solar array in hopes of loosing a snag in one of three guide wires.

Today's spacewalk is set to begin at 2:37 p.m. EST (1937 GMT).

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare to Begin Spacewalk at ISS
16 December 2006 1:35 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Two astronauts are suited up for a planned six-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) today.

Discovery's STS-116 mission specialist Robert Curbeam and ISS Expedition 14 flight engineer Sunita Williams are clad in their NASA spacesuits inside the space station's Quest airlock. They are scheduled to exit the ISS at about 2:37 p.m. EST (1937 GMT) to begin work to rewire the station's power grid.

The astronauts are slightly ahead of schedule by about 15 minutes, and so could begin their extravehicular activity early, NASA officials have said.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Astronauts Awake to Stage Spacewalk at ISS
16 December 2006 10:02 a.m. EST

HOUSTON - NASA roused the seven-astronaut crew of the space shuttle Discovery with Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" at 9:47 a.m. EST (1447 GMT) in preparation for today's third spacewalk of their mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The song was chosen for Discovery's STS-116 mission specialist Nicholas Patrick, who is making the first spaceflight of his astronaut career.

Patrick's fellow mission specialist Robert Curbeam and Expedition 14 flight engineer Sunita Williams, who arrived at the space station with the Discovery astronaut crew earlier this week, are set to step outside the ISS at 2:37 p.m. EST (1937 GMT) to complete the orbital laboratory's rewiring job. If they have extra time, they may be able nudge a balky solar array that has been stalled in mid-retraction atop the station's Port 6 truss since Wednesday.

"We might get some luck today and get that solar array back where it belongs," ISS flight director Joel Montalbano said in morning update.

Click here for a video overview of today's spacewalk outside the ISS.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story to today's spacewalk.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers May Inspect Balky Solar Array Saturday
15 December 2006 9:58 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - NASA has relayed a preliminary plan to send spacewalkers up to a balky solar array atop the International Space Station's mast-like Port 6 truss Saturday, time willing, to astronauts aboard the orbital laboratory.

"We currently envision this as an inspection task,"

NASA astronaut Steve Robinson, serving as spacecraft communicator, told astronauts aboard the ISS. "How much and what you could do, and what you could touch, is really under development."

"We understand that it's going to be a dynamic day," Discovery shuttle commander Mark Polansky replied.

Astronauts and flight controllers attempted to shake the solar array's guide wire loose, then deployed and retracted the solar wing slightly but were unable completely stow the 115-foot (35-meter) panel.

STS-116 spacewalker Robert Curbeam and ISS flight engineer Sunita Williams, who arrived at the station aboard Discovery this week, are due to spend up to six hours working to rewire the station's power grid.

Robinson said that discussion for a possible fourth spacewalk during Discovery's docked operations at the ISS is not off the table, but staging that spacewalk on Sunday is.

If a fourth spacewalk is added, which is still not decided, it would take place on Monday.

Mission managers plan to hold a press conference at 9:30 p.m. EST (0230 Dec. 16 GMT) to go over their spacewalk plans in a status briefing.

You are invited to follow the briefing live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

NASA Ceases ISS Solar Array Work, Mulls Options
15 December 2006 9:23 p.m. EST

HOUSTON -Efforts to clear an apparently snagged guide wire and retract a solar array aboard the International Space Station have failed to pack the stubborn 115-foot (35-meter) wing in its storage box.

After hours of troubleshooting to wiggle, then deploy and retract the portside array stemming from the station's mast-like Port 6 truss were unsuccessful, flight controllers called off the attempt.

NASA astronaut Steve Robinson, serving as spacecraft communicator between mission control and the International Space Station, said flight controllers are discussing the possibility of adding solar array work to tomorrow's planned spacewalk, but only if extra time permits after spacewalkers complete their assigned tasks.

Earlier today, Discovery's STS-116 astronauts said they were willing to help out on the solar array problem, even if it meant adding a fourth spacewalk to their busy schedule.

Mission managers have been discussing options and are expected to hold a press briefing later this evening.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Unfold, then Refold Balky Solar Array
15 December 2006 9:05 p.m. EST

HOUSTON -Astronauts aboard the International Space Station slightly unfolded a balky solar array atop the outpost's mast-like Port 6 truss at 8:57 p.m. EST (0157 GMT).

Astronauts then retracted the array back to just about their starting point, with similar folding problems as encountered before.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

NASA to Attempt ISS Solar Array Retraction
15 December 2006 8:48 p.m. EST

HOUSTON -International Space Station flight controllers and astronauts will again attempt to retract a troublesome solar array on the outpost's Port 6 truss beginning no earlier than 8:57 p.m. EST (0157 GMT).

Flight controllers have directed astronauts aboard the ISS and shuttle Discovery to extend the portside P6 solar array out just one segment of its mast, then begin retracting the wing one mast section at a time.

The solar array was left half-furled Wednesday, Mission managers believe guidewires are sticking to their stainless steel grommets to stall the array's retraction.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Solar Array Troubleshooting Continues at ISS
15 December 2006 8:15 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Mission controllers continue to study a troublesome solar array on the International Space Station's Port 6 truss as they again await a daylight overflight of the orbital laboratory.

Initial attempts to shake the array by physically moving it and through vibrations caused by an exercising astronaut did not appear to be successful, though renewed efforts to shake the solar wing have yielded some promising signs.

NASA astronaut Steve Robinson, serving as spacecraft communicator, said the next attempt to wiggle the solar array will occur no earlier than about 8:30 p.m. EST (0130 Dec. 16 GMT).

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Take Better Look at Troublesome ISS Array
15 December 2006 7:21 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Mission controllers have rotated a troublesome solar array on the International Space Station's Port 6 truss, yielding better views of its problem spot for cameras and astronauts at the orbital laboratory.

Flight controllers believe that guidewires are hanging fast as they pass through stainless steel grommets while the array is retracted. Plans are in work to rotate the array back and forth to try and shake them loose.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

ISS Mission Control to Rotate Half-Retracted Solar Array
15 December 2006 6:48 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - Astronauts and International Space Station flight controllers are waiting for the orbital laboratory to reenter daylight over Earth in order to once more wiggle the half-furled Port 6 solar array.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Work Continues to Shake Half-Furled ISS Solar Array
15 December 2006 6:48 p.m. EST

The tests have yielded some visible waves in the solar array, which has been in a half-stowed position since Wednesday.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

More Solar Wing Shakes For ISS Array
15 December 2006 5:58 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - The half-furled Port 6 solar array outside the International Space Station (ISS) undergoing another round of shimmies and shakes as astronauts and flight controllers try to dislodge a stuck guide wire and fold it away.

ISS flight controllers sent up a series of preprogrammed commands to move the solar array, producing visible waves reported by shuttle Discovery commander Mark Polansky.

If successful, the solar array could be retracted tonight, NASA officials said.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

ISS Astronaut Exercises to Shake Solar Array
15 December 2006 1:07 p.m. EST

HOUSTON - International Space Station flight engineer Thomas Reiter has jumped into an ad hoc exercise regime in an effort to shake a half-furled solar array outside the orbital laboratory.

Reiter is expected to be performing some vigorous power squats and lifts using what's called an Interim Resistance Exercise Device (IRED), a sort of bungee-bar tool to maintain astronaut strength in orbit.

The exercise is one of two techniques to loosen the balky half retracted Port 6 array without a spacewalk. Reiter began the exercise at about 12:58 p.m. EST (1758 GMT) and continued in brief bursts.

"We'll give you the silver medal for that," NASA astronaut Terry Virts, serving as spacecraft communicator, told Reiter.

You are invited to follow today's STS-116 activities live using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at via the link on the left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

ISS Flight Controllers Conclude Solar Wing Wiggle
15 December 2006 11:04 a.m. EST

HOUSTON - International Space Station flight controllers have completed their initial tests to wiggle the half-furled solar array reaching out to port from the orbital laboratory's Port 6 truss.

After three incremental solar array shimmies, engineers are now studying images and camera views to determine whether the maneuvers loosed friction on one of the wing's guide wires.

Meanwhile, flight director Joel Montalbano said this morning that an attidude control glitch aboard the ISS may be linked to solar activity. The leading theory, he said, is that the effects of a massive solar flare this week apparently ramped up the density of the Earth's atmosphere temporarily and conf