Mission accomplished: new motor drive works

Spacewalking astronauts successfully swapped out a broken solar wing motor drive at the International Space Station today, clearing the way for a series of shuttle missions aimed at delivering European and Japanese science labs to the outpost.

Working near one end of the station's central truss, station commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani watched on as specialists in NASA's Mission Control Center started up the new motor. One of two giant arrays that make up the solar wing slowly began to pivot -- proof positive that the new motor is working properly.

"We're looking good so far," NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn said from Mission Control.

"Excellent," Tani said.

"Outstanding," Whitson chimed in.

"That's good to hear," Tani said.

Added Marshburn: "That's awesome work, you guys."

Here's how it looked at the start of a test to turn the array 360-degrees:
























The spacewalkers are wrapping up their inspections of the Solar Alpha Rotary joint, and they'll soon be heading back to the Quest airlock. They've been working outside the outpost now for just over six hours.