Three astronauts of Endeavour mission will attempt to repair damaged International Space Station joint.
NASA discovered problems more than a year ago with one of the two joints that rotate the station’s American solar wings.
Equipped with terrycloth mitts and grease guns, Endeavour’s team will attempt a short-term fix, cleaning metal debris from the joint and lubricating it with a dark-gray grease the consistency of toothpaste.
According to a report, the joint on the station’s starboard side needed more power to spin, and spacewalks later confirmed damage. The mission is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center at 7:55 p.m. Friday.
After studying more than 100 possible causes of the damage, engineers believe gold-plated bearings that roll across the ring’s surface as it turns failed to provide adequate lubrication.