A newly delivered urine processor is working as intended this morning after three problem-plagued start-ups, and a test of the International Space Station's starboard solar wing system is coming up at 5:55 a.m. EST.Specialists in NASA's Mission Control Center will beam up commands to the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) during a two-orbit test of repairs made to the mechanism, which is designed to turn solar wings like a paddlewheel so they can constantly track the sun as the outpost circles Earth. Doing so maximizes electrical power production.
The repairs were finished Monday during the last of four spacewalks scheduled during Endeavour's ongoing stay at the station, which is being extended by a day.
The urine processor was started up at 4:19 a.m. after a three-hour cool-down period that followed its first successful run-through. The machine made it through a four-hour checkout for the first time earlier today. The success followed three shutdowns and two attempts to repair the apparatus, which is designed to convert urine into potable drinking water.
You can watch the solar wing test and other mission activities right here in The Flame Trench. Simply click the NASA TV box on the righthand side of the page to launch our NASA TV viewer and round-the-clock coverage of STS=126.
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