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🧪 Community source Tesla Energy Energy

Two astronauts install seventh ISS solar array in 7h 11min spacewalk

📍 Reddit SolarEnergy

Unconfirmed: according to a user discussion, Joshua Kutryk and Anil Menon spent 7 hours and 11 minutes outside the ISS, about 260 miles (roughly 420 km) above Earth, installing the seventh of eight roll-out solar arrays. According to the same text, the array unfolded to about 63 feet (19 m) using only energy stored in its carbon composite supports, without a motor, in about 12 minutes. The source states that the full set of eight could raise station power from 160 to about 215 kW, and that NASA says this power will support the ISS's controlled deorbit, whose date is cut off in the text.…

🔎 Why it matters: There is no official confirmation in this source: the claim is that the 63-foot array unfolds using energy from its carbon supports and that all eight arrays would raise power from 160 to about 215 kW.
📈 Upside: If confirmed, all eight arrays would raise ISS power from 160 to about 215 kW, according to the source.
📉 Risk: The increase to 215 kW requires all eight arrays, and the text only describes installing the seventh, so the eighth remains pending.
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