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Ammonia Leak Alarm On the ISS Forces Evacuation of US Side: Crew Safe

Posted by Soulskill on from the send-up-a-plumber dept.

New submitter BabelBuilder writes: An alarm signaling a possible ammonia leak aboard the ISS this morning caused the crew to evacuate the U.S. side of the station. All crew aboard the station are safe. "Flight controllers in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston saw an increase in pressure in the station's water loop for thermal control system B then later saw a cabin pressure increase that could be indicative of an ammonia leak in the worst case scenario. Acting conservatively to protect for the worst case scenario, the crew was directed to isolate themselves in the Russian segment while the teams are evaluating the situation." They don't yet know whether it was caused by a faulty sensor, a problem in the relay box, or another malfunction.

3 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. This is why I like analog gauges... by TWX · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...with no electrical or electronic component to their basic functionality. I find I can confirm false-readings much more easily than relying on an electronic sensor, and that it seems like at least with automobiles, the sensors themselves fail more often than the conditions that the sensors were designed to detect actually manifest.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    1. Re:This is why I like analog gauges... by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You want analog? Check this out. This is a 360 view of the engineer's station of a Convair B36. I'm not quite sure where I'd stash my slide rule, but I'm sure there's a spot somewhere.

      --
      Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
  2. Re:Cold War calling... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think the truss is purely US-built. Here's a reasonably recent color-coded schematics.

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    Ezekiel 23:20