Spacewalker Scott Parazynski, a graduate of Stanford Medical School who did his internship at Harvard, is ready to start working on the International Space Station's damaged solar wing.
Surveying the situation, Parazynski says he's going to have to sever some snarled hinge lines and guidewires and stitch up two tears in the ripped and rippled solar blanket.
"Sounds like you have some surgery to do, Dr. Parazynski," shuttle mission commander Pam Melroy said.
"I think so," Parazynski replied. "I think the patient is prepped."
Working with tools that are triple taped with insulating Kapton, Parazynski will have to be careful around the high-voltage array. NASA spacewalk planners say he must avoid touching the solar panel with anything that is metal to avoid serious shock hazard or even electrocution.
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