NOTE: As prime contractor for the International Space Stations (ISS), Boeing Space Exploration will hold a 10-11 a.m. CST Wednesday Feb. 21 a media briefing to discuss the Boeing-built Starboard Three (S3) and Starboard Four (S4) integrated truss segments being delivered to the space station on March 15 during the STS-117 mission.
At 35,678 lbs, the truss segments are the heaviest space station payload to date. The principal functions of the S3 and S4 truss segments are to provide electrical power and data interfaces for future mission payloads and convert sunlight to electricity. The segments will include another set of Solar Array Wings (SAWs) and a second Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ).
During the briefing, Boeing will also discuss its role in supporting this month’s unprecedented back-to-back series of three International Space Station (ISS) spacewalks that helped complete the Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) onboard the space station station; the SSPTS will soon allow the ISS to supplement the shuttle orbiters with electrical power.
Location: 1200 Wilson Blvd. in the Boeing Rosslyn Building, Rosslyn, Va., Room 1045. A dial-in number will be provided to media who can not attend the press briefing in person. Reservations are required, and requests for the dial-in number must be received by 5 p.m. CST Tuesday, Feb. 20.
Contact: For reservations or to request the dial-in information, please contact: Tanya Deason-Sharp, 281-226-6070 or Jennifer Catton, 703-465-3663.
Background: The S3/S4 truss segments will be the second starboard addition to the 11-segment integrated truss structure that will eventually span more than 300 feet to carry power, data and temperature control for the orbital outpost’s electronics. In addition to S3/S4, Space Shuttle Atlantis will carry in its middeck a Hydrogen (H
