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Earlier this week at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, the last solar wing for Orion was unfolded, tested and folded for launch \u2013 the next time it unfolds will be in orbit around Earth next year.<\/p>\n
The first European Service Module that will power Orion on the Artemis I mission around the Moon is in final stages of integration and checks at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout facility and one of the last tasks is to connect the four large solar wings to the main structure. Before integration the wings are unfolded and then folded for launch to ensure they operate as planned.<\/p>\n
Each 7 m wing are hinged at two points so they can be folded to fit inside the fairing of the Space Launch Systems rocket. After launch and in Earth orbit the four wings unfold to span 19 m and swivel and rotate to collect solar energy, turning it into electricity for the spacecraft\u2019s systems.<\/p>\n
As the wings are designed to be unfolded in space, they are not made withstand Earth\u2019s gravity. To test their functioning the Solar Array Wings are deployed with a rig that supports them on rails from above and follows their deployment.<\/p>\n