The Space Shuttle Atlantis landed safely at 6:21 AM today. It's mission marked a return to the International Space Station and the resumption of construction there. Canadian Astronaut Steve MacLean and his teamates attached a new set of solar panels, doubling the capacity to generate power. This is a critical step in the construction of the ISS, allowing many more additions in future shuttle flights.
You can see in this drawing of the ISS, a new set of panels on the lower right. In addition to adding more electical power, this solar array will make the ISS much more visible when it passess overhead. It will be likely as bright as Venus when the sunlight bounces off at just the right angle! I'm looking forward to seeing it again, brighter than ever! I will keep you posted on when it will be visible again over southern Ontario.
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