Astronauts repair torn solar panel in seven hour spacewalk

Astronaut Scott Parazynski pulled the short straw (probably on purpose: you know what these astronaut types are like) and had the task of repairing the ripped solar array on the International Space Station. Mission complete, as Parazynski managed to move the guide wires that caused the damage out of the way and "stitched" together the two and half feet rip, the whole time managing to avoid touching the panels and their 100 volt charge. It's the furthest any astronaut on the ISS had been outside the cabin, and as such it took an hour to get there on a 90 foot robot arm. What would we do without duct tape?

[Via Crave]

[DarkAardvark @ Nov 4th 2007 12:34PM]

in the words of a fearless leader, "Mission Accomplished"

[SAM @ Nov 4th 2007 12:50PM]

"7 hour space walk"
So, whatta 'bout the OSHA mandated restroom break....

[Khris @ Nov 4th 2007 12:59PM]

NASA sent along a supply of their new "Discovery Diapers".

No one hears you Poop in the vacuum of space!

[John Sinshack @ Nov 4th 2007 12:53PM]

note to self: Time is not a distance

"It's the furthest any astronaut on the ISS had been outside the cabin..."

[blarvh @ Nov 4th 2007 1:01PM]

It's the furthest in distance not time.
It took some difficult google:ing but I found on the first link that the record of longest spacewalk was set in 2001 to 8 hours 29 minutes.

[Ian @ Nov 4th 2007 6:56PM]

ARe those diapers the type which were recently road tested between Texas and Florida?

Seriously one brave and skilled guy did this job today:)

[John Sinshack @ Nov 4th 2007 9:36PM]

oops, i'm stupid

[finnith @ Nov 4th 2007 12:55PM]

Wow.

[Merp @ Nov 4th 2007 1:57PM]

Balls of Steel.

[CommanderAce @ Nov 4th 2007 1:23PM]

And they didn't use duct tape, they made 'cuff links' on orbit and poked them through holes either side of the tear

[Brett @ Nov 4th 2007 9:58PM]

Joke perhaps?

[John @ Nov 4th 2007 1:33PM]

There is no duct tape on Mars, or on the ISS.

[Ayle @ Nov 4th 2007 7:45PM]

Isn't there a case in their maual were in order to subdue an crazy astronaut they're allowed to use duct tape?

[jwtrooper @ Nov 5th 2007 3:48AM]

No, that's Scopolamine... maybe with the duct tape. Looks like fun stuff.

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/27/scopolamine-zombie-d.html

[Josh @ Nov 4th 2007 1:37PM]

Ahh, Go Scott!

(Sorry, He's a family friend. Dad went to school with him)

[Argot @ Nov 4th 2007 3:16PM]

Yeah. Let's all bash Josh! :D

[Phil Perman @ Nov 4th 2007 2:05PM]

All the best techies know that gaffer tape is far better than duct tape!

[Reader @ Nov 4th 2007 3:10PM]

I'm just curious how his wallet got out of his vacuum-sealed spacesuit...

[Joe @ Nov 4th 2007 4:15PM]

Yes, what the hell is that?

[rcarydon @ Nov 4th 2007 6:53PM]

So the suits conduct electricity?

[Mischa Lockton @ Nov 5th 2007 12:43AM]

So it was broken but it was still live? Does not make much sense to me but I aint no astronaut, so color me impressed.

[jwtrooper @ Nov 5th 2007 3:49AM]

Sun + Solar Cell = Electricity... they would have to work in the dark to shut them off.