Astronauts Work Out Plans To Fix Solar Wing

Thursday, November 1st 2007, 8:20 pm

By: News On 6

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER (AP) -- NASA is trying to work out plans for a spacewalk to fix a ripped solar wing at the international space station. The goal is to solve the problem before the shuttle Discovery undocks.

Astronauts on Thursday put together makeshift mini-braces for the torn wing. They're using strips of aluminum and tape.

They took a break to speak with former President Bush and his wife, Barbara, who visited Mission Control.

They exchanged a few pleasantries, after which the former president jokingly shouted, "Back to work now!" He said, "Don't be just sitting around having fun." He added that he's "very, very proud" of the crew members.

The tear in the solar panel is the more pressing of two major issues affecting power production on the international space station. A rotary joint that controls the solar wings on the other side of the station is also causing problems.

Both issues could disrupt future construction work there.