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In recent days we have written about the loss of coolant from a circuit of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft currently docked at International Space Station to the Rassvet module (Russian segment). As we have had the opportunity to point out, at the moment astronauts and cosmonauts are not in danger of life but it is certainly an unusual situation and certainly not recommendable. Because of this Roscosmos and the NASA they are working to understand what the actual risks are and envisage alternative strategies.
There Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft brought on ISS Frank Rubio (NASA), Sergey Prokopyev (Roscosmos) and Dmitri Petelin (Roscosmos) who should return in March 2023. In these conditions it is not clear whether the capsule can still be used safely and for this reason, to avoid further risks, it could be taken the road of sending a new unmanned Soyuz to replace it (and allow safe return). This is what we know at the moment.
Roscosmos works on the problem of the Soyuz capsule connected to the International Space Station
As reported in the official blog from the ISS yesterday, NASA and Roscosmos are evaluating the loss of the external cooling circuit from the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft. Once again it is specified that the temperatures and humidity inside remain within acceptable limits. The Russian space agency has also identified the source of the leak allowing for a more accurate study of the solutions.
As previously announced, some close-up photographs were captured on December 18 thanks to the Canadarm2 robotic arm. According to reports it would be present “a small hole” with a discolouration of the paintwork in the area near the radiator. The hole would be near the battery control system linked to the solar panels. The most probable hypothesis remains that of a micrometeorite but also a is not excluded space debris (after all Canadarm2 itself had been hit earlier).
The Russian agency TASS would received news that the Progress MS-22 cargo spacecraft may not reach the International Space Station in the spring to speed up the launch operations of the Soyuz MS-23 which could arrive on the ISS for February (while Progress would be postponed to March). On board the new Soyuz there would be no crew but it would be used to replace the MS-22. Roscosmos stated that there are no final decisions on the matter. This strategy would therefore still be unofficial.
To give further confirmation was Yuri Borisov (director general of Roscosmos) who stated “We have a backup option. The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft will be prepared, dock to the station in unmanned mode and bring back the crew. Well, of course, the Soyuz MS-22 will go back to unmanned mode”. The same Borisov he also added that the US would have offered to use a Crew Dragon to bring the astronauts back to earth but Roscosmos would have declared that there would be no need. The top executive said on a television show “They’ve proven themselves worthy, they’ve reached out a helping hand, but I hope we’ll make it on our own. […] [ndr. gli USA] they offer various options for assistance, up to getting our cosmonauts back to their spacecrafts. But right now there’s no need”.
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