Minor Technical Issue Aboard Shuttle Discovery

IZ Reloaded writes "Space Shuttle Discovery has a problem with the pipeline for an auxiliary power unit that controls the shuttle's hydraulic steering and braking maneuvers. CNN reports that the pipleline is leaking 'fuel' at about six drops per hour." From the article: "The leak is more likely nitrogen, but there is no way of knowing that, so NASA is treating the problem as if the leak were fuel ... If it is fuel, the current rate is still 100,000 times slower than what would cause a fire ... Just in case, NASA will turn on the power unit with the leak early Sunday as part of its normal testing and then see if the leak rate changes. If it does, NASA may burn off the hydrazine and shut down the power unit before the shuttle returns to Earth to eliminate any fire hazard.'"

Comments

Terminology

[pipingguy]

There are pipelines in space now? Cool.

The leak is more likely nitrogen, but there is no way of knowing that.

Excuse me? The shuttle must be one of the most redundantly-instrumented efforts ever built and they don't know what's leaking?

Getting rid of it is a good idea

[Megaport]

Hydrazine is nasty stuff but it is just one of the dangerous checmicals aboard the shuttle.

When Columbia broke up, it was the possible presence of Hydrazine from the APUs that make the Texas Dept of Health issue warnings about approaching shuttle debris.

The problem with spaceflight is that everything is so close to the edge. Performance requirements that can still leave a good safety margin mean that simpler and safer methods are often inadequate. Consumers don't have the same risk/reward ratio as people who sit on top of rockets for a living.

-M