SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Station to Get New Piece; Astronauts to Go Spacewalking*

The on-orbit construction of the International Space Station resumes today with the attachment of the P3/P4 integrated truss structure and a spacewalk by STS-115 astronauts. The STS-115 and Expedition 13 crew members will use the station’s robotic arm to attach the 17.5-ton structure to the P1 at 4 a.m. EDT. (0800 UTC)

Then at 5:15 a.m., STS-115 Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper are slated to begin the first of three spacewalks to outfit and prepare the P3/P4 truss, which contains a set of solar arrays, for operation. The new truss will provide power, data and communication services for the station. The arrays will be unfurled to a full length of 240 feet on Thursday and will eventually double the station’s power capabilities.

During today’s spacewalk, the Tanner and Piper will install power and data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar array deployment.

The excursion is scheduled to last 6 hours and 20 minutes. Mission Specialist Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams will operate the station robotic arm. Mission Specialist Dan Burbank will coordinate the spacewalk activities.