Posted by: Szabolcs Nagy
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First time iROSA solar panels on the ISS
Please welcome my first ISS video with the new iROSA solar arrays
Allow me to start this post as usual with the flyby details. The pass happened on the 11th July 2021 at 1:51am-1:56am.
Orientation was perfect possibly due High Beta Angle season. Previously I have witnessed this incredible phenomena a couple of occasions, twice in 2018 (first and second), third time in 2019 and last time in 2020. But what exactly High Beta Angle season is? In this great article written by Dave Dickinson on Universe Today will explain it thoroughly.
ISS has 4 pairs of older solar arrays and 1 pair of brand new ones (iROSA) which rotates with the old ones. During High Beta Angle season Sun constantly shining on ISS (as you can see in the video), which can cause overheating. So they turn 2 of 4 pairs of solar arrays away from Sun to reduce chance of overheating. Also solar panels can cast shadow onto the station structure which also reduced direct sunshine.
So the pair of solar panel which iROSA is fitted onto on port side was turned away from Sun (and from us) which allowed me to snap frames about the iROSA at a perfect orientation.
Very pleased with the outcome!
Last but not least this is a comparison I have made from footages taken during 2020 and 2021 High Beta Angle Season. Please note the presence of the newly fitted iROSA solar arrays and the docked SpaceX Endeavour Crew Dragon (Crew-2 mission) to the Harmony module forward looking dockig port. It is really nice to compare the change on the International Space Station.
11/07/2021
Equipment
Skywatcher 250/1200 Flextube dobson telescope
Zwo ASI224MC camera
TeleVue 2.5x powermate
