The starboard solar alpha rotary joint (SARJ), which is damaged, resembles the port joint, which briefly stopped Thursday.
Mission extended by another day
NASA managers announced Wednesday that the mission would be extended by a second day. After 13 days in space, Atlantis is scheduled to land Feb. 20 at 9:06 a.m. EST at Kennedy Space Center.
Port SARJ working normally
The port solar alpha rotary joint stopped briefly this morning. However, the stoppage was not similar to mechanical damage found on the starboard SARJ, which has limited the starboard solar array's ability to generate electricity.
"It just stopped rotating. It was no issue," NASA spokesman Kyle Herring said. "It was an understood command issue. It wasn't a malfunction."
The port SARJ is working normally, paddlewheeling two solar arrays, while the starboard SARJ is operated in a directed fashion.
Spacewalkers Friday will inspect the starboard SARJ to photograph damage to a race ring. Power and bearings can be transferred to a second race ring, however, NASA engineers want to understand what caused the damage to keep it from reappearing.
Some off-duty time and interviews are scheduled for the Atlantis crew today.
Also on Friday, a spacewalker will rub a swatch of cloth against a bit of damage on a handrail to see if it is the source of glove damage that several astronauts have experienced.
In interviews with media outlets, astronauts had these comments:
French astronaut Leo Eyharts :"This (Columbus) module is dedicated to science. We have, so far, four of the racks. This module will be used partly by (the European Space Agency) but also partly by NASA for scientific research."
U.S. flight engineer Dan Tani: "(The space station) is about the size of a 757. We're all learning now how to make this turn (into the Columbus module.)"
(On going home.) "I have mixed emotions about going home. I feel like I should have cherished it more."
Space station Commander Peggy Whitson: "We're starting to set up laboratory racks inside the module now. I don't get too lonely because we feel pretty connected. (On being a role model.) If a farmer's daughter from Iowa can make it to be commander of the space station, I don't think there are too many limits."
Click for interactive graphic on Columbus installation.
Click for flight day 8 execute package.
Click for STS-122 fact sheet.
Click for NASA-TV schedule, which details mission events.
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