> Same question for solar panels: Do they let them rotate so at odd times they're exactly flat in the plane of the sun and receiving 0% energy, or do they rotate other modules of the spacecraft so that the solar panels are always at the sun?
I think I didn't quite get this question.
The solar panels have two rotary joints; the alpha joint (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Truss_Structure#Sol...) and the beta joint (related to the beta angle, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_angle). With both joints operating together, I think there's no angle where the solar panels can't be pointed directly at the sun. They only get out of the sun when it's behind the Earth, or if they have to move the panels out of the way to avoid pluming from a docking or leaving spacecraft.
I think I didn't quite get this question.
The solar panels have two rotary joints; the alpha joint (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Truss_Structure#Sol...) and the beta joint (related to the beta angle, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_angle). With both joints operating together, I think there's no angle where the solar panels can't be pointed directly at the sun. They only get out of the sun when it's behind the Earth, or if they have to move the panels out of the way to avoid pluming from a docking or leaving spacecraft.