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Initial solar array deploy held up for troubleshooting BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: September 13, 2006 Engineers held up initial deployment of a new set of solar arrays aboard the international space station this evening after a possible gear train alignment problem was noticed inside a rotary joint that passed initial checkout earlier today.
Engineers had hoped to begin the initial deployment of the new P4 solar arrays attached to the SARJ this evening, extending the panels a few feet to relieve compression after years of storage. The Atlantis astronauts are scheduled to fully deploy the 115-foot-long solar wings early Thursday. But during SARJ checkout this afternoon, engineers ran into problems with one of two redundant drive systems. One drive lock assembly, or DLA, successfully rotated the P4 arrays 180 degrees in an afternoon test. But when engineers attempted to carry out a 360-degree rotation with the redundant DLA, a sensor indicated an apparent misalignment in the gear train. A procedure was executed to clear the problem, but the misalignment indication remained. Flight controllers then decided to hold up the initial array deployment while they assessed what, if anything, needed to be done. It is possible the problem is the result of a faulty sensor, but it's also possible some other issue is responsible. This status report will be updated as new information becomes available.
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PORT 3/PORT 4 TRUSS KEEL PIN REMOVED AND STOWED 