| |
UA9FBV > SAT 17.01.04 23:02l 54 Lines 2032 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-018.08
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: ISS Leak Source Possibly Found
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0MRW<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ER3KAZ<UA9FBV
Sent: 040117/2110Z @:UA9FBV.PRM.RUS.AS #:47595 [Perm] GATEWAY $:ANS-018.08
From: UA9FBV@UA9FBV.PRM.RUS.AS
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 018.08 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. January 18, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-018.08
A leaky hose in a U.S. laboratory likely triggered a recent drop in
cabin pressure aboard the International Space Station, NASA officials
said Monday.
Engineers ran tests this week aimed at confirming that suspicion.
The space agency also said the astronaut training to serve as the
station's next skipper -- William McArthur -- has been replaced because
of an undisclosed medical ailment. Veteran astronaut Leroy Chiao will
take his place as commander of the ninth station expedition.
Working over the weekend, meanwhile, U.S. astronaut Michael Foale
discovered a hiss of air escaping from the flexible hose while
conducting ultrasound inspections within the U.S.-built Destiny lab
module.
The suspect hose serves to vent air overboard from between two panes of
glass that make up a high-quality optical window in the lab. Doing so
prevents any build-up of condensation between the panes.
Foale removed the hose and capped valves it was connected to. Extra
oxygen also was pumped into the station to raise cabin atmosphere
closer to its normal level -- 14.7 pounds per square inch, which equals
atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth.
Cabin pressure on the station Monday had stabilized at about 14 pounds
per square inch. Certain station equipment is not certified to operate
below 13.9 pounds per square inch.
Engineers will monitor cabin pressure to confirm whether the hose was
the source.
A spare hose is to be launched to the station either aboard a Russian
Progress cargo carrier on Jan. 29 or a Russian Soyuz spacecraft that
carries the next crew to the station.
In the meantime, Moritz said, engineers are developing other means for
making certain condensation doesn't build up between panes of the lab
window, which is used for high-resolution Earth observation
experiments.
[ANS thanks Florida Today for the above information.]
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
