Thursday 10 July 2008

NASA Mission Patches STS-97

STS-97 NASA Mission Patch


This is the crew insignia for STS-97, which will deliver, assemble, and activate the U.S. electrical power system on board the International Space Station (ISS). The electrical power system, which is built into a 47-foot integrated truss structure known as P6, consists of solar arrays, radiators, batteries, and electronics.





P6 will be attached to the Station using the Shuttle's robotic arm in coordination with spacewalking crewmembers that will make the final connections. The spacewalkers will then prepare P6 for the subsequent deployments of the large solar arrays and radiator, which are critical steps in the activation of the electrical power system.


The 120-foot solar arrays will provide the power necessary for the first ISS crews to live and work in the U.S. segment. The crew patch depicts the Space Shuttle docked to ISS in low Earth orbit after the activation of the P6 electrical power system. Gold and silver are used to highlight the portion of ISS that will be installed by the STS-97 crew.


The Sun, central to the design, is the source of energy for ISS.


Patchman

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