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ISS Spacewalk Cut Short

Posted by michael on from the practice-in-breath-holding-pays-off dept.

RobertB-DC writes "The spacewalk that was intended to replace a balky power supply ended almost before it started, according to Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center play-by-play. The Russian Orlan spacesuit worn by US astronaut Mike Fincke developed a problem with its oxygen supply (!), forcing both spacewalkers back to the airlock after less than 15 minutes. Mission control and the ISS crew are still debating what to do next."

8 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. The answer is simple... by Animaether · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just patch the leak with putty!
    NASA: Astronauts to get putty for small holes

    Though I have to question these NASA budgetcuts.. AstroPutty

  2. Russian Spacesuits by Mz6 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    FWIW, I thought it was kind of interesting that these spcesuits are not able to carry jetpacks, like the US ones, should the tether break. Pretty risky if you know you don't have a back up if it breaks. Although it's even more risky not having air.

    --
    Hmmm.
  3. Russian space suits... by Shoeler · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Are widely regarded as rugged, tough suits. However, I understand they lack many of the safeguards that their American counterparts have. Anyone know if this is true or my bad recollection? I saw a show on the Discovery channel some time ago that compared the Russian and American space programs. It spoke of how the American program uses multiple redundant systems, while the russians favor rugged, proven gear. It also spoke of how the russians bettered their space program by launching many rockets, knowing their failure rate would be high, but learning from those failures. In comparison the American program launched fewer and did lots of R&D between them.

    Personally I would want to be on the rocket that had a lower percentage of failure and thus would want the American space suit, but perhaps I'm biased. ;)

    1. Re:Russian space suits... by foidulus · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It also spoke of how the russians bettered their space program by launching many rockets, knowing their failure rate would be high, but learning from those failures. In comparison the American program launched fewer and did lots of R&D between them.
      There was probably a reason for this during the cold war. While the American media isn't as free as we think it is, they still would have covered something as significant as a rocket launch. Thus if it failed, the Russians could easily find out. However, the Russians were better at keeping their media in check, so if rockets failed, it would be a lot harder for others to know.
      Well, thats my take on it anyway

    2. Re:Russian space suits... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This speaks to the difference between engineering approches in these two cultures. The US scientific culture has leaned towards lots of computational power to construct large models and simulations. Soviet scientific culture was more rooted in analytical solutions, not using computers as their American counterparts much for numerical solutions. This can be easily observed in my field by reading US and Soviet research papers from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. My field btw would be engineering vibrations and modal analysis.

  4. What to do next by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Interesting
    a problem with its oxygen supply (!), forcing both spacewalkers back to the airlock after less than 15 minutes. Mission control and the ISS crew are still debating what to do next." It should be obvious - take a deep breath!

    Seriously, maybe its time to think of something along the space pods in 2001 with their manipulators. They were cool because they were a realistic solution.

  5. Lucky by shadowcabbit · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's a good thing they caught the oxygen problem before things got worse. Good job, guys.

    This sort of thing demonstrates the need for advances in robotics. An remote-controlled machine could potentially do spacewalk jobs somewhat more easily and far more safely than sending out a human in what boils down to a ziploc bag tied to the station.

    ...But, as long as folks are brave enough to go Out There, I'll still be rooting for them.

    --
    "Why Subscribe?" Good question...
  6. Re:Oh well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This may be a stupid question but ... This space walk is to replace a faulty circuit breaker right? Is it just me, or would it not be much smarter to put the circuit breakers on the INSIDE of the station? I mean, Isn't this a bit like putting the fuse box on the roof of your house?