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Merge: janrinok (12/17 19:01 GMT)
Soyuz capsule hit by micrometeorite, leaks ammonia
Soyuz coolant leak likely caused by micrometeorite strike on space capsule at International Space Station [abc.net.au]
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 [space.com] showing the leak (and no sound, hence the dept line)
Radiator Leak From Russian ISS Module Leaves Spacewalkers Cooling Their Heels
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Radiator leak from Russian ISS module leaves spacewalkers cooling their heels [engadget.com]:
Russia's Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS), began leaking coolant Wednesday evening. According to Russia’s space agency Roscosmos [t.me], the instrument and assembly compartment’s outer skin was damaged. Fortunately, the crew is safe, and they conducted normal operations afterward. NASA said in a blog post [nasa.gov] that “the external radiator cooling loop of the Soyuz is the suspected leak source.”
Cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin were already in their suits, preparing for a nearly seven-hour spacewalk, when the crew noticed low-pressure readings. The cosmonauts postponed their walk indefinitely and weren't exposed to the coolant. “Roscosmos is closely monitoring Soyuz spacecraft temperatures, which remain within acceptable limits,” NASA said. “NASA and Roscosmos continue to coordinate external imagery and inspection plans to aid in evaluating the external leak location.” The crew plans to investigate further using the station’s robotic arm.
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 [engadget.com] 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 [engadget.com] even before the invasion.
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 [engadget.com] 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 [engadget.com] even before the invasion.
