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Soyuz Damage May Delay Space Station Trip
SeaDour writes "As if the failed oxygen generator on the International Space Station wasn't bad enough, rumor has it that the planned launch of a Russian Soyuz capsule to change crews onboard the station may be delayed due to a mishap during ground testing. Apparently one of the small explosive bolts, used to separate sections of the capsule during landing, prematurely exploded, which means the bolts may all have to be inspected for defects. Russian space officals haven't officially confirmed any delay of the October 9 launch date, but I'm sure it's something the two astronauts on the station are thinking about as they repressurize the station with reserve air supplies."
from the article: "This apparently refers to the small explosive bolts that sever mechanical and electrical connections between sections of the Soyuz during landing."
the bolts are exploded when coming back down, so there is some worry there.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
They have 3 oxygen generators. All 3 are now broken. It's not like they have more spares laying around. They're talking about trying to repair one of the other broken ones.
There is redundancy. There's LOTS of redundancy. About half of the levels of redundancy have currently failed, and they're down to the last half. The *nauts have currently around 4 options they can try before they abandon ship.
"Do not drill any holes in your cat - it will not like it."
-- Nick Davies
Well, if you'd RTFA you'd learn that they have a spare oxygen generator on the space station that can be installed as a replacement if necessary, plus they have a bunch of spare parts they can use to repair the one that is giving trouble. They have over a month's supply of chemical oxygen generators, and they have oxygen supplies in the Soyuz that is docked. So they have lots of redundancy here.
There has to be some limit to the amount of redundancy they have in any one system, as they only have so much weight and volume available, but they don't seem to have cut any corners in the area of O2.
Kevin Horton
It's an extra Soyuz capsule, permantently attached, to be used as a lifeboat in case of emergency evacuation.
As usual, it's the Russians bailing us out...
There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments. --Bene Gesserit Axiom
*They do not explode violently. They are hollow and have a weak zone. When the propellant burns, the pressure breaks the weak zone. The propellant is a lot like the stuff that inflates air bags.
The Elektron generators split oxygen from water molecules, which are primarily obtained from the crew's waste water. For more info on the ISS' life support, check out this page.