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The rotation of the International Space Station's (ISS) solar wings, specifically the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJ), can experience wear and tear over time.
Mechanism of Wearout:
The SARJ mechanisms are large rotating joints that orient the solar arrays towards the sun to maximize power generation.
They rotate continuously and slowly, completing one full rotation per orbit (approximately every 90 minutes).
This constant rotation puts stress on the bearing surfaces and can lead to wear, especially if proper lubrication or design specifications are not met.
Issues Encountered:
Lubrication Failure: In 2007, the starboard SARJ suffered a lubrication failure, resulting in severe damage (spalling) to one of the bearing surfaces.
Increased Drag Torque and Vibrations: This issue manifested as high drive motor current draw and increased structural vibrations near the joint.
Kinematic Design Vulnerability: Investigations revealed that the anomaly was caused by a combination of kinematic design vulnerability, inadequate lubrication, and manufacturing flaws.
Mitigation and Repairs:
Cleaning and Lubrication: To mitigate the damage, astronauts performed spacewalks to clean and lubricate the affected bearing surfaces.
Component Replacement: Worn and damaged components were replaced in orbit.
Improved Lubrication: Space-compatible grease was applied to improve lubrication and reduce friction.
Lessons Learned: The experience led to improved practices in designing, manufacturing, and testing mechanisms for use in the space environment.
Impact on Solar Arrays:
While the SARJ issues primarily affect the rotating joint mechanism, the solar arrays themselves are also subject to degradation over time.
Environmental factors like radiation, contamination, and micrometeoroid impacts can contribute to the degradation of the photovoltaic cells.
The original solar arrays were designed for a 15-year service life and have been replaced multiple times to ensure adequate power generation for the station.
In conclusion, the rotation of the ISS solar wings, specifically the SARJ, has encountered wear and tear issues primarily due to lubrication failures and design vulnerabilities. These issues have been addressed through repairs, lubrication, and component replacement, and the lessons learned have been incorporated into future designs. The solar arrays themselves also experience gradual degradation from environmental factors, necessitating periodic replacemen

The sun has set on the United Kingdom for the first time in 200 years. Keir Starmer gave away our islands and a large sum of money, in return for which Mauritious will give us nothing at all. Worst deal in the history of deals, maybe ever.

We're still in twilight though, I believe. Night has not yet fallen. And Diego Garcia is under a lease now (which the next government should void, along with all the payments, and make it clear to Mauritious they aren't having our island) so it's still administered by us. We're holding on by a very thin thread, a very thin thread.

Perhaps, at least, we can finally bury the Yookay and let Albion return...