from the if-I-spring-a-leak-they'll-mend-me dept.
Soyuz capsule hit by micrometeorite, leaks ammonia
A coolant leak from a Russian space capsule attached to the International Space Station (ISS) was likely caused by a micrometeorite strike, a Russian space official says.
Russia's space corporation Roscosmos and NASA have both said the incident hasn't posed any danger to the station's crew.
However, the leak prompted a pair of Russian cosmonauts to abort a planned spacewalk earlier on Thursday.
[...] As Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin were about to venture outside the station on a planned spacewalk, ground specialists saw a stream of fluid and particles on a live video feed from space, along with a pressure drop on instruments, emanating from the Soyuz capsule.
Mr Prokopyev, Mr Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio used the capsule to arrive at the ISS in September, and it serves as a lifeboat for the crew.
Mr Krikalev said the station's future operations would depend on an assessment of the capsule's condition.
"Decisions about the future flight program will be made on the basis of that analysis," he said.
About 1 minute excerpt from NASA's live channel showing the leak (and no sound, hence the dept line)
Radiator Leak From Russian ISS Module Leaves Spacewalkers Cooling Their Heels
Radiator leak from Russian ISS module leaves spacewalkers cooling their heels:
The Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft launched from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 21st, carrying the two cosmonauts and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio. The Russian space agency added that "a decision will be made" about the cosmonauts' future aboard the ISS. A spacewalk scheduled for Dec. 21 is postponed indefinitely as the investigation continues.
Russia's war in Ukraine has complicated (to say the least) the relationship between NASA and Roscosmos. Earlier this year, Russia said it would pull out of the ISS after 2024 and focus on launching its own space station. Although removing Russia from the ISS would throw a tremendous wrench into the program, the US reportedly had contingency plans even before the invasion.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Sunday December 18, @06:51AM
Maybe next time, shooting down a satellite in orbit -> not such a good idea?
(Score: 3, Funny) by fraxinus-tree on Sunday December 18, @08:34AM (2 children)
I own a Soviet-made car. Well, most parts are already replaced with newer, Russian-made ones (just like in Soyuz capsules). While it is an overall fun and all, it is also true that it leaks all of the liquids it is supposed to contain from all of the assemblies. It leaks antifreeze, motor oil, transmission oil, brake fluid and gasoline. It also seeps grease from whatever is grease-lubricated. Just get all of the jeep/landrover jokes, multply them by 100 and you get UAZ (the reality, not the jokes).
What I can authoritatively say is that the Russian industry is incapable of making a sane rubber or other sealing material, no matter how much important the application is. And don't get me wrong, this is in no way limited to car-making.
The workaround (widely used by me and by the Russian space industry alike) is to use Western-made or Japan-made rubber parts wherever at all possible.
And here come _the Sanctions_ (good luck procuring anything space-related from EU, US or Japan) and _the import-replacement initiative_ ("Sanctions-shmanctions, we'll just start making everything ourselves.... well, well, ... or at least start importing or smuggling these things from friendly-ish nations like China that have less strict export controls") .
Oh...
And don't even get me started on Russian-made mating surfaces.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Sunday December 18, @01:45PM
>don't even get me started on Russian-made mating surfaces.
The engineer / shop operator who installed my turbo exhaust manifold without any gasket noted: if the surfaces are flat enough, you don't need any gasket. 25 years and 100,000 turbocharged miles later, it seems he was correct.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Sunday December 18, @04:14PM
It's not a bug, it's an artistic statement referencing all the Russian wealth that leaks away from the common people due to rampant corruption.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by sjames on Sunday December 18, @05:50PM
Since TFA didn't call out the real question, I will.
The loss of coolant may or may not render the Soyuz unable to safely complete a move away from ISS and de-orbit burn. If it is unable, they'll need another ride home. Given circumstances in Russia right now, that won't likely be another Soyuz.