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Chemical Leak on ISS

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead dept.

Random Utinni writes "It looks like the Russian Elektron system on the ISS may be causing problems again. Today the crew discovered potassium hydroxide leaking into the space station. This comes right after delivery of new ISS components and right before the arrival of a new crew and first female space tourist."

9 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. obligatory by sporkme · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In Soviet Russia, potassium hydroxide breathes you!

    Fron TFA:
    "NASA declared a spacecraft emergency for only the second time in the eight-year history of the station. The first time was for a false alarm of an ammonia spill."

    That is a fantastic track record for an environment in a constant state of upgrade, falling perpetually at 17000 miles per hour. Nevermind the flammable nature of the atmosphere that surrounds overworked electronics and the parade of "space tourists." Ever have a visiting family member flush a broken toilet?

    --
    FairTax baby!
  2. first female space tourist by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Interesting

    meh. Helen Sharman kinda predates her by 15 years. Not to mention the fact that neither actually like the term "space tourist" and have claimed they are the first such.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:first female space tourist by FleaPlus · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Helen Sharman kinda predates her by 15 years. Not to mention the fact that neither actually like the term "space tourist" and have claimed they are the first such.

      Indeed. It seems that people want to use the term "space tourist" for anybody that pays their own way, rather than having the government pay for them (or in the case of Helen Sharman, having a consortium of British companies pay for her). I don't think anybody would've called the partipants in the ill-fated Teacher in Space Project tourists, even though their primary purpose would've been an outreach role similar to that Anoushseh Ansari is fulfilling.

    2. Re:first female space tourist by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It could have earned some money that Rutan could have put into making his SpaceShipTwo, and further stimulated the market to encourage others to do the same. Instead, what it did was quiet the market and force people to write yet-another-business-plan.

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. Hrmm, Mir? by HatchedEggs · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Does anybody know what kinds of problems they encountered with the Mir? I know that it is not exactly applicable to this situation, just was curious.

    I t0o second that the ISS has a remarkable track record considering just what it is. A man made object that has to house several people 24/7/365 in space.

    It does seem like the Elektron system has had some problems though. I wonder if after all this any member nations will chip in for a new model.

    --
    Justin - Don't be afraid of my blog, it won't bite.
  4. On the Plus Side... by moehoward · · Score: 4, Interesting


    You know, I just love the fact that Anousheh Ansari is up there. It has been so long since we've had such inspiration, imagination, and determination in the space program. Heck, even of all the space programs going on these days in the world. Her presence there is inspirational and has really captured the imagination of my kids and their friends. Simply wonderful to see that look in their eyes that I must have had in the Apollo days. A woman who paid a prize to go to space also paid for her own trip up there. Just for the fun of it! And to boot, with all that is going on in the world, she is of Iranian descent. I mean, come on. If we can't feel good about this and make some "nice" over it, then we should really be ashamed of ourselves.

    This is just fantastic. Thank you, Anousheh.

    --
    "If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
  5. Space Station and Shuttle, against the Sun by lecithin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A bit off topic, but I just saw this and thought I would share:

    http://www.astrosurf.com/legault/iss_shuttle.jpg

    It is just amazing the amount of detail that can be seen from the earth.

    --
    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
  6. Value of ISS by CRMeatball · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While the ISS is certainly an engineering and political achievement, one has to wonder about the actual value of the ISS. NASA is spending massive amounts of money to build it, at the expense of funding critical science research. It is also causing them to ignore the fact that within 5 years, more than 1/4 of NASA's workforce is going to retire. Seeing that it is usurping all of NASA's resources, it makes me wonder, Is it really worth it? It reminds me of something I heard about a year or so ago. A retired Russian cosmonaut was speaking about about the ISS. He said "The international space station is like a nice piece of luggage that does not have a handle. It is totally worthless, but a pity to leave behind."

  7. Anousheh Ansari official blog, other details by FleaPlus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    For those of you curious about such things, the X Prize (which Anousheh Ansari funded) is hosting an official Anousheh Ansari Space Blog. Before her launch, Anousheh posted some descriptions of her pre-launch training and her thoughts on going to space. There's also some commentary from Peter Diamandis, the founder of the X Prize.

    Some other interesting bits of info:

    * She's carrying a small carbon-fiber piece of Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne up with her into orbit.

    * According to an interview with MSNBC's Alan Boyle, she had initially planned on bringing some science projects up with her, but this was scratched when the launch date was suddently bumped from being 1-2 years to being a few months away. However, she's purchased some datalink time in order to do live communications with groups at MIT and Google.

    * Her company Prodea is working with the Russian space agency and Space Adventures to build a suborbital spacecraft which will launch out of spaceports in the UAE and Singapore.

    * She rathes dislikes the term "space tourist." From an interview with space.com:

    SPACE.com: You don't like the term "space tourist" and call it an "over simplistic label to a complicated process." Can you further explain that?

    AA: Absolutely. In a way I take offense when they call me a tourist because it brings that image of someone with a camera around their neck and a ticket in their hand walking to the airport to go on a trip somewhere and coming back to show their pictures. But I think spaceflight is much more than that.

    I've been training for it for six months. I think if it is to be compared to an experiment or an experience on Earth it probably is closer to expeditions like people who go to Antarctica or people who climb Mount Everest. I mean that requires a lot more preparation, thinking, and studying or appreciation of the environment. So I would probably compare it more to an expedition than I would to a touristy trip to another city.