On Oct 31, 10:18 am, "Brian Gaff" wrote:
[...]
I find it hard visualising the array folding and deployed mechanics, but
seems to me, its got to be under some tension to be rigid enough o not
wobble about as its moved in normal use, so whatever they need to use may
need to be quite strong.

Here's an attempt at a verbal pictu imagine a stack of punch cards
(playing cards have too wide an aspect ratio -- the "cards" are long
and skinny).

Add hinges to opposite long sides so you have a Z-fold (or fan-fold if
you prefer). The "first" long side gets attached to a curtain rod,
and the "last" long side gets anchored in the box.

I can't tell from http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/
195515main_iss016e007399_hires.jpg if the narrow sides are attached
to the scissors jack or not -- perhaps Jorge or Jim can fill in that
detail.

The scissors jack is parallel to the narrow sides, and pushes the
curtain rod out, and the panels ("punch cards") follow along, pulled
by the hinges.

This is highly over-simpllified, of course, and may contain errors, so
I'll keep an eye out for those people updating the verbal picture.

/dps