Astronauts fix computers on ISS, repair thermal blanket

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Astronauts on Friday fixed a tear in the shuttle Atlantis's heat shield and repaired two main computers at the International Space Station after an unprecedented systems breakdown that lasted 48 hours, a NASA spokeswoman said.

"They got them running around 3:00 pm (1900 GMT)," NASA spokeswoman Brandy Dean told AFP, adding that the technical teams were monitoring the system to see how it reacted to the adjustments.

"For now it's working," she said. "This is good news. It's very encouraging."

Astronauts used a jumper cable to bypass a faulty power switch, NASA said on its website. The computers will run overnight for testing in the morning.

Russian flight controllers blamed the glitch on installation of the ISS' new solar panels, but...