After orbit occurs... things freeze up.

I've been sending probes into deep space, but once I get so far(I use Time Warp), the command pod has no electric charge and the stage lock is locked(pink). I have solar arrays on my probe, but it says they are retracted and I don't know if/how I can extend them. Is this a bug, or do I need to design a better ship that incorporates electricity better. Also, the m/s speed and elevation are locked after this "malfunction" happens, unless I time warp again. Possibly unrelated, sometimes my stages freeze, causing my ship to become completely unresponsive, leaving the rockets at whatever throttle they were at, then spinning out of control and crashing. Any help would be wonderful.