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ISS Oxygen Generator Fails

Posted by michael on from the hope-you're-handy-with-a-wrench dept.

caino59 writes "It hasn't been too long since the food shortage on the International Space Station - now the main oxygen generator has failed. Apparently, the backup supply should allow them to make it to 60 days, which is past the next scheduled trip up. Hopefully, previous crews didn't hog all the O2."

2 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. O2 Generator is Back on-line by Rocket_Sci · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is a non-story. The problem was fixed. Here is a link to Spaceflight Now: SpaceFlightNow

  2. How space stations work by displague · · Score: 2, Informative

    I was curious about the "Elektron Oxygen Generator" and found a brief description
    here:

    1. The Russian Elektron generator will make oxygen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen (electrolysis).
    2. Solid fuel oxygen generators or oxygen candles will be burned to make additional oxygen, if required.
    3. The space shuttle or Progress supply ships will bring nitrogen from Earth, and store it in external tanks on the station.
    4. In later phases of construction, external tanks will supply oxygen; these tanks can be refilled by the space shuttle. In the final stage, an additional electrolysis oxygen generator will be added to the station.
    5. The pressure control assembly (a system of pumps and valves) will mix the nitrogen and oxygen in the right percentages, monitor the atmospheric pressure and depressurize the station when necessary to prevent overpressure or to extinguish a fire during an emergency.

    --
    Marques Johansson