renos on the station

The question was flying about yesterday: how many astronauts does it take to break a bolt. But today, with a burnt out bulb on a suit, we finally get to learn how many astronauts it takes to change a light bulb in space...

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I would normally feel very patriotic when a Canadian is on the shuttle or Space Station. And certainly, on this occasion on shuttle flight STS-115, there was cause for celebration, with Mission Specialist Steve MacLean being the first Canuck to operate a Canadarm. But I'm increasingly awed by the international flavour of this endeavor. Hearing the Russians (once viewed as foes in the great Space Race) chatter in their native tongue, knowing that the ESA is involved, watching NASA delicately juggle timetables with the other agencies, it is clear that this is a world project.

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The new rotating solar arrays look beautiful.



And this will make for an even bigger and brighter target in the night sky.