This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/6188359.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
ISS crew fix jammed solar panel Discovery space shuttle undocks
(about 21 hours later)
The crew of the space shuttle Discovery have fixed a jammed solar panel at the International Space Station (ISS). The space shuttle Discovery has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) after an eight-day stay on the orbiting outpost.
In a record-breaking fourth spacewalk on a single mission, US astronaut Robert Curbeam, with Sweden's Christer Fuglesang, folded the stuck panel away. Early on Tuesday, astronauts fixed jammed solar panel on the ISS during an unscheduled fourth spacewalk.
The two astronauts returned to the ISS at 0138 GMT on Tuesday after more than six and a half hours. A US astronaut on the space station has switched places with a member of the seven-person Discovery crew and will travel back to Earth on the orbiter.
The unscheduled spacewalk means that the shuttle will return to Earth a day later than planned, on Friday. Discovery detached from the space station at 2210 GMT.
"We finished all the mission objectives so we are very pleased. It's a great day for the ISS programme and the shuttle programme," said Kirk Shireman, deputy manager of the ISS programme.
The mission had three main objectives: installation of a two-tonne truss to the girder-like ISS structure, the rewiring of the power and thermal systems, and the retraction of an old solar array to allow a new one to collect solar energy.
Extra spacewalk
In the early hours of Tuesday, US astronaut Robert Curbeam, with Sweden's Christer Fuglesang, folded the stuck solar panel away, to complete a record-breaking fourth spacewalk on a single mission.
The two astronauts returned to the ISS at 0138 GMT after more than six and a half hours.
Discovery's launch left a fiery trail in the Florida skyThe unscheduled spacewalk means that the shuttle will return to Earth a day later than planned, on Friday at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
Nasa approved the spacewalk after astronauts failed to fix the panel despite rewiring electrical systems.Nasa approved the spacewalk after astronauts failed to fix the panel despite rewiring electrical systems.
Progress was extremely slow, as the spacewalkers spent about five hours poking the partly retracted panel with insulated tools and shaking the storage box to free the stuck sections. The 35m (115ft) panel needed to be folded up to be moved to another part of the ISS.
Astronauts on board sent commands to reel in the panel, section by section. The 35m (115ft) panel needed to be folded up so it could be relocated to another part of the ISS.
Staff in Mission Control applauded when the final section fell into the box.Staff in Mission Control applauded when the final section fell into the box.
"You have a magic touch, Christer," Discovery commander Mark Polansky told Mr Fuglesang of the European Space Agency. In Saturday's spacewalk, which was to have been the final one of the mission, Mr Curbeam left the ISS ahead of Sunita Williams, who was beginning her first mission.
Panel stuck Construction task
A solar panel on the space station failed to retractIn Saturday's spacewalk, Mr Curbeam left the ISS ahead of Sunita Williams, who was beginning her first mission.
After several attempts at fixing the jammed solar panel on the ISS, Nasa decided to halt the spacewalk as the astronauts' spacesuits were running short of supplies.After several attempts at fixing the jammed solar panel on the ISS, Nasa decided to halt the spacewalk as the astronauts' spacesuits were running short of supplies.
The array, which needed to be folded away to make room for new panels, jammed as the astronauts attempted to retract it by remote control.
It has been six years since the panel, which has served as the space station's primary power source, was deployed and it has not been retracted during that period.
New solar panels, fitted in September, will take over the job of powering the ISS, boosting its power by about 50%.New solar panels, fitted in September, will take over the job of powering the ISS, boosting its power by about 50%.
Night flight
The mission is taking place to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. At least 14 more missions are needed.The mission is taking place to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. At least 14 more missions are needed.
Discovery blasted off from Florida last weekend in the first night launch of a space shuttle in four years, after being delayed for two days because of bad weather. Discovery blasted off from Florida in the first night launch of a space shuttle in four years, after being delayed for two days because of bad weather.
Discovery's launch left a fiery trail in the Florida skyThe landing date is now expected to be 22 December back at the Kennedy Space Center.
Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Mr Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Ms Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang.Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Mr Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Ms Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang.
A British-born astronaut, Nicholas Patrick, is among Discovery's crew. For five of the seven astronauts, this is their first shuttle flight.A British-born astronaut, Nicholas Patrick, is among Discovery's crew. For five of the seven astronauts, this is their first shuttle flight.
Ms Williams will stay on at the ISS when Discovery heads home, taking German Thomas Reiter back to Earth.Ms Williams will stay on at the ISS when Discovery heads home, taking German Thomas Reiter back to Earth.