Jun 13 2002
From The Space Library
Scientists announced the discovery of a planetary system with architecture similar to Earth's solar system, including multiple planets revolving around a parent star, at great distances and in nearly circular orbits. The discovery, the first confirmation that other planetary systems had evolved much like Earth's solar system, also raised the possibility of the existence of other Earth-like planets in the universe. The scientists who had spearheaded the research effort~Geoffrey W. Marcy of the University of California at Berkeley and R. Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institute of Washington~announced the discovery of a planet nearly the size of Jupiter, orbiting a star at approximately the same distance as that of Jupiter from the Sun. Just as significantly, the astronomers reported that the planet was orbiting its parent star at a distance relatively farther than that of most planets previously observed. In addition, they had found that the newly discovered planet has a circular orbit like Jupiter, whereas most other planets observed had elongated, eccentric orbits. The planet was the second discovered orbiting the star 55 Cancri. The scientists explained that, although the planetary system they had observed was not directly analogous to Earth's solar system, its discovery signaled that they were closer to finding a system similar to that of Earth. (NASA, “Newfound Planetary System Has 'Hometown' Look,” news release 02-111, 13 June 2002.)
Two astronauts from Space Shuttle Endeavour undertook an extravehicular activity (EVA) to repair the ISS's robotic arm, Canadarm2. American astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz and French astronaut Philippe Perrin replaced one of seven joints on the US$600 million, Canadian-built robotic arm, which was critical to the continued construction of the ISS. To repair Canadarm2, the astronauts first removed its 450-pound (205-kilogram), hand-like, latching-end effector (LEE); loosened six bolts connecting the problematic “wrist roll” joint to the arm; and disconnected power, data, and video lines. They then installed the replacement joint, tightened the bolts to secure the new joint to the arm, restored the power and other lines, and reaffixed the LEE. Subsequent tests of the Canadarm2 confirmed the success of the repairs. The EVA, lasting 7 hours and 17 minutes, was the third for Mission STS-111. (William Harwood, “Spacewalkers Continue Space Station Repairs; Joint on Robotic Arm Is Replaced,” Washington Post, 14 June 2002; NASA JSC, “STS-111, Mission Control Center Status Report no. 18,” 13 June 2002, http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/sts111/STS-111-18.html (accessed 18 August 2008).)
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