Fri, Nov 16, 2007
Harmony Hook Up Planned For Tuesday
NASA has determined a
report of a smoke-like smell from a Russian cosmonaut testing his
spacesuit on the ground last week was an isolated case, and
shouldn't pose a problem for upcoming spacewalks at the
International Space Station.
As ANN reported, rookie
Mikhail Korniyenko, 47, also reported "heat behind his neck,"
coming from the suit's backpack-mounted life-support system during
a November 9 training exercise.
The test was quickly aborted, and the cosmonaut was hauled to
safety as technicians retrieved the suspect backpack. NASA briefly
banned all further spacewalks, as it investigated the matter.
While engineers could not duplicate the problem reported by
Korniyenko, they believe the most likely source of the odor was a
canister containing a metal oxide. The non-toxic chemical is used
to absorb carbon dioxide breathed out by astronauts during
spacewalks.
"There was no indication of combustion or an electrical event,"
NASA spokeswoman Lynette Madison told The Associated Press, after
restrictions on spacewalks were lifted Thursday afternoon. "We've
been cleared to conduct spacewalks."
That's good news for the crew onboard the ISS, as well as
mission planners on the ground. Next week, Expedition 16 commander
Peggy Whitson and astronaut Daniel Tani are scheduled to conduct
the final two spacewalks needed to connect the recently-installed
Harmony module to the ISS, ahead of December's mission of the
shuttle Atlantis to the station.
NASA says the first six-hour, 40-minute spacewalk planned for
next week will begin the external outfitting of the Harmony node in
its new position in front of the US laboratory Destiny. The
spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 0500 EST Tuesday.
A second spacewalk will wrap up external power hookups on
November 24.
More News
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]
IDENT Feature The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed beacon target from other be>[...]
Aero Linx: Pararescue Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only DoD elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full spect>[...]