[ad_1]
As we know currently docked at International Space Station there is the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-22 that had a cooling system leak due to a micrometeorite or space debris (not a manufacturing issue). Roscosmos is evaluating, together with NASA, how to act for the next few weeks with a definitive answer that will be given in January 2023. Two technical commissions are working to understand if the capsule is still able to guarantee the safe return of astronauts or if it will have to be replaced.
The astronauts and cosmonauts currently aboard the ISS they are not in immediate danger. For this reason, no particular procedures are in place and life goes on (almost) as always. The Russian space agency has ruled out that with an extravehicular activity (EVA) by the cosmonauts it can restore the complete operation of the Soyuz MS-22. The tests currently in progress and those carried out in recent weeks have however given a good result.
International Space Station: SpaceX Crew Dragon usable as a “lifeboat”?
In one of the last posts on official blog dedicated to ISS A very interesting passage has been written regarding the developments of this situation. The text reads “NASA and Roscosmos are working jointly on any decisions related to crew safety, including crew transportation. NASA and Roscosmos are continuing to conduct a series of engineering reviews and are consulting with other international partners on methods to bring home safely the Soyuz crew for both normal and emergency scenarios. A final decision on the course forward is expected in January.”.
In addition, however, it is also written that “As part of the analysis, NASA also contacted SpaceX regarding its ability to bring additional crew members back aboard Dragon [ndr. Crew Dragon] if necessary in an emergency, although the main goal is to understand the capabilities after the loss of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft”.
This means that should there be an emergency on board the International Space Station and this should be evacuated quickly, the NASA might consider using a single Crew Dragon to bring astronauts/cosmonauts back to Earth. The ship of SpaceX it can carry up to seven people at the same time but the current set-up is for a maximum of four members and no additional seats are provided. Currently aboard the ISS present are Frank Rubio (NASA), Dmitri Petelin (Roscosmos), Sergey Prokopyev (Roscosmos), Koichi Wakata (JAXA), Josh Cassada (NASA), Nicole Mann (NASA) and Anna Kikina (Roscosmos).
The first three arrived on board the Soyuz MS-22, now damaged, the other four instead with Crew-5. Since there are seven people overall, the spacecraft capacity would not be exceeded but seats and equipment would still be missing (for example, IVA overalls, intravehicular activity). A public response has not yet been provided by SpaceX on this possibility and in general, as written, both agencies aim to be able to use the Soyuz even in case of need.
.
[ad_2]
Source link
