International Space Station (ISS). Source: European Space Agency, Wikimedia Commons
A micrometeorite strike was likely the cause of a coolant leak onboard the International Space Station (ISS), according to a Russian space official.
Just before two cosmonauts, Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, were about to embark on a space walk outside the ISS, ground crew specialists spotted a stream of particles and fluids as well as a pressure drop coming from the Soyuz MS-22 capsule attached to the ISS. The ground crew were able to spot the leak on a live video stream.
Sergei Krikalev, veteran cosmonaut and director of crewed space flight programs at Russian space corporation Roscosmos, has said that the leak could have been caused by a meteorite hitting one Soyuz capsule’s radiators.
Both NASA and Roscosmos have said that the incident has caused no imminent threat to any of the station’s crew members.
Mr Krikalev has stated that while the malfunction could impair the capsule’s coolant system and affect the temperature of the capsule, there was no danger to the crew. Krikalev also said that Russian flight controllers have been assessing the situation and monitoring the temperature of the capsule.
“There have been no other changes in parameters on the Soyuz spacecraft and the station, so there is no threat for the crew,” Krikalev said.
The capsule was used by Mr Prokopyev, Mr Petelin, and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to arrive at the ISS back in September. The capsule also serves as a lifeboat for the station’s crew members.
Mr Krikalev said that any future operations would depend upon a thorough assessment of the capsule.
“Decisions about the future flight program will be made on the basis of that analysis,” Krikalev said.
A spokesperson for NASA has said, “NASA and Roscosmos will continue to work together to determine the next course of action following the ongoing analysis.”
