
Astronauts working outside the International Space Station just noticed a tear in one of its solar panels. Two of these 110-foot-long panels were due to be unfurled, and the first unrolled without a hitch, but NASA halted the second one when its spacewalkers saw the damage.
This caps a tough few days for the station, as astronauts also confirmed a problem with one of the motorized joints that turns the panels to face the Sun. NASA had suspected there was a problem, and astronaut Dan Tani confirmed it up close, noticing shards of metal scrapings throughout the joint. Next up: figuring out where they came from.—Gregory Mone
(Image credit: NASA)

Every year, PopSci honors the top 100 innovations in categories such as consumer products, medical tech and engineering.
Learn more and submit your product or technology today at popsci.com/enter.
Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
Will the Rocket Racing League hold its first race before the end of 2008?
Will EADS start construction on a tourist rocket by December 31, 2008?

