Spacecraft --- Space Station --- Power
All of the onboard systems of the ISS will need electrical power.
Eight large solar arrays will provide electrical power from the sun.
Each array is 33m long and covers an area of approximately 2508 m2, or about one acre.
On each array are two blankets of solar cells. Each blanket is on one side of a telescoping mast that can extend and retract to fold or form the array.
The mast turns on a gimbal, so that it can keep the solar cells facing the sunlight.
Structure of the ISS Propulsion Communication Navigation Power Computer Resupply Escape Research in the ISS