Galactic Glitch: Spacewalks on Hold After ISS Leak

Spacewalks Delayed Due to Coolant Leak at International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) was imaged from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour following its departure from the Harmony module’s outer port on November 8, 2021. The image was captured while the station was 263 miles above the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Image Source: NASA.

NASA’s engineering and flight control teams are meticulously analyzing data related to a coolant leak from a secondary radiator located in the station’s Nauka multipurpose laboratory module (MLM). Consequently, two spacewalks that the United States segment had planned for October 12 and October 20 have been deferred. The rescheduled dates will be disclosed in due course.

The coolant leak has currently stopped, a fact confirmed by Roscosmos flight controllers and substantiated by NASA’s external camera views of the station, which now reveal only leftover coolant particles.

The main radiator of the Nauka module remains functional, offering comprehensive cooling to the module. This incident has not compromised the safety of the crew or the ongoing ISS operations.

Historical Context and Continued Examination

In 2010, the backup radiator was transported to the ISS via the Rassvet module during the space shuttle mission STS-132. In a subsequent spacewalk by Roscosmos, it was moved to the Nauka module. Ground teams persist in their efforts to discern the cause of the leak, with further information to be shared once available.

Routine Tasks on the ISS

Cargo management and general maintenance tasks occupied the day at the International Space Station. Despite the microgravity conditions rendering objects weightless, all the crew members of the orbital lab assessed their mass using specialized equipment.

Spacewalk Preparations in Progress

The seven-member crew divided their tasks in anticipation of the forthcoming spacewalks. Astronauts Loral O’Hara from NASA and Andreas Mogensen from ESA will venture outside the ISS to analyze the potential microorganisms that might endure the harsh conditions of space. Colleagues Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA) and Satoshi Furukawa (JAXA) will support them throughout the spacewalk which is projected to last six hours.

In a related event, Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub are gearing up for a separate spacewalk scheduled for the end of the month. Their mission entails installing new equipment and releasing nanosatellites. The pair devoted their day to familiarizing themselves with the upcoming spacewalk’s protocol.

Cargo Movement and Upkeep

In the midst of preparations for the spacewalk, O’Hara, Mogensen, and Furukawa alternated in transferring cargo to and from the Cygnus space freighter attached to the Unity module’s terrestrial port. The Cygnus freighter, dispatched by Northrop Grumman, arrived at the ISS on August 1, laden with food, fuel, equipment, and innovative scientific experiments. Its tenure at the ISS is slated to conclude in December.

Lastly, Cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov concentrated on supporting life maintenance systems and handling electronic devices. He successfully completed carbon dioxide tracking, prepared radiation detectors for an imminent spacewalk, charged camcorder batteries, and adjusted video cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ISS Spacewalk Delay

More about ISS Spacewalk Delay

• NASA Official Website
• International Space Station Updates
• SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour
• Roscosmos State Corporation
• Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module
• ESA (European Space Agency)
• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
• Cygnus Space Freighter
• Spacewalk Preparations and Procedures