Leak repaired on International Space Station

13 May 2013 - Over the weekend the crew of the International Space Station worked overtime to fix a leaking cooling network outside the orbital outpost. Astronauts Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn ventured into space on Saturday and replaced a pump unit that was leaking ammonia. After more than five hours working outside, the astronauts seem to have solved the problem. Liquid ammonia is used to keep the Space Station at the right temperature by being pumped through external radiators to lose excess heat. The spacewalk was the last major job for the crew who will return to Earth tonight in a Soyuz spacecraft. That team, including Canadian astronaut and commander, Chris Hadfield, handed over command on Sunday. The Station will operate with the three remaining crewmembers until the next Soyuz arrives on 29 May with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin.
account creation

TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT

And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.



Your Benefits

  • Access to all content
  • Receive newsmails for news and jobs
  • Post ads

myScience