우주공간에 대롱대롱 매달린 NASA 우주 비행사들

우주공간에 대롱대롱 매달린 NASA 우주 비행사들

http://reuters.donga.com/2007/11/071104nasa.wmv 우주 비행사 2명이 ‘국제 우주 정거장’을 수리하기 위해 우주 공간에 떠있다. 미 우주왕복선 디스커버리호가 국제우주정거장(ISS)의 태양 전지판 수리를 무사히 마쳤다. 이날 수리를 맡은 디스커버리호의 수석 우주인 스콧 파라진스키는 3일 ISS의 연장팔을 이용해 지난달 30일 태양전지판을 펼치는 작업 도중 부러진 연결 부위의 얽힌 부분을 정교하게 자르고, 이를 5개 버팀대(brace)로 교환했다. 디스커버리호의 승무원들과 ISS 관계자들은 수리 후 작동하지 않았던 전지판이 정상적으로 펼쳐져 안정적으로 작동하는 모습을 확인하고 모두 환호했다. 앞서 미 항공우주국은 ISS의 동력원인 태양전지판이 부분적으로 작동하지 않을 경우 ISS의 건설 작업을 계속할 수 없다고 지적한 바 있다. 이날 수리가 성공적으로 끝남에 따라 올해 말까지 ISS에 장착될 예정이었던 유럽우주국(ESA)의 연구모듈 ‘콜롬버스(Columbus)’의 조립 작업은 예정대로 진행될 수 있을 것으로 전망된다. 지난달 23일 발사된 미 우주왕복선 디스커버리호는 오는 수요일(미국시간 11월 7일) 귀환할 예정이다. ▼다음은 로이터 기사 원문 Two astronauts conduct a spacewalk to carry out repairs on International Space Station. SHOWS: (W3) IN SPACE (NOVEMBER 3, 2007) (NASA TV-ACCESS ALL) 1. ASTRONAUTS OUTSIDE SPACE STATION 2. ASTRONAUT MANIPULATING TOOL 3. ROBOT ARM 4. REPAIRS UNDERWAY WITH EARTH IN BACKGROUND 5. ROBOT ARM WITH SOLAR PANEL AND EARTH IN BACKRGOUND STORY: Two astronauts floated out of the International Space Station on Saturday (November 3, 2007) on a risky spacewalk for what could be a make-or-break repair for completion of the $100 billion space outpost. Scott Parazynski was headed out to the farthest reaches of the station to mend a solar power panel that is torn, but producing about 100 volts of power and and if touched could give a powerful shock. The torn, wing-shaped panel is partially extended and needs to be unfurled to its full 110-foot (34-metre) length to work properly.      In the panel's current condition, NASA said it does not want to move ahead with expansion plans that call for finishing the outpost by 2010 when the space shuttle fleet needed for construction is to be retired.      Europe's Columbus laboratory is set for delivery by space shuttle Atlantis in December, five years behind schedule, followed by Japan's three-part Kibo complex next year. To get to the damaged wing, Parazynski had to strap himself to an arm about 75 feet (23 metres) long that combines an extension boom from the docked space shuttle Discovery and the station's robot arm. Spacewalk partner Douglas Wheelock was to stay on the station structure, helping guide robot arm operators Daniel Tani and Stephanie Wilson as they gingerly steered Parazynski on a 45-minute ride into place. Plans for the seven-hour spacewalk call for him to thread six home-made, cufflink-like straps through holes in the solar array so that it can be fully stretched out without further ripping.      The solar panel tore in two places, one of them almost three feet (one metre) long, when a guidewire snagged as it was being unfurled. NASA had to scramble to put together Parazynski's spacewalk plan and said if it does not work, another spacewalk could be required before Discovery leaves the station. The shuttle launched from Florida on October 23 and is scheduled return to Earth on Wednesday (November 7).

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