Title: Cosmonauts Conduct Spacewalk to Investigate ISS Leak; NASA Assures Crew Unaffected
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In an effort to address and rectify a recent leak on the International Space Station (ISS), two cosmonauts from Russia’s Roscosmos took part in a spacewalk today. The mission, expected to last up to seven hours, will be live-streamed via NASA Television for enthusiasts to witness.
The cosmonauts’ primary objectives during the spacewalk include the installation of communications hardware, the release of a nanosatellite, and a thorough examination of a suspected leaky radiator located on Russia’s Nauka science module. This particular leak, which occurred on the Russian side of the ISS on October 9, has prompted NASA to postpone two of its own scheduled spacewalks as a precautionary measure.
Remarkably, this is not unfamiliar territory for cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, who previously investigated a pressure leak in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft during a spacewalk back in December 2018. Now, he and his colleague are once again embarking on a mission to uncover the cause of the ammonia coolant leak at Nauka, which is the third such incident to occur in Russian ISS hardware within the past year. While previous leaks were attributed to micrometeoroid strikes, the exact cause of the latest incident is yet to be determined and remains under investigation.
Despite the concerns raised by these leaks, NASA officials have reassured the public that the safety and well-being of the ISS crew have not been compromised. Furthermore, space station operations have not experienced any significant disruptions as a result of the incident.
During today’s spacewalk, specific precautionary measures will be employed to mitigate the risk of ammonia entering the ISS. Rigorous inspections of spacesuits and tools will be conducted, along with decontamination procedures for the astronauts involved.
In a bid to ensure that the pursuit of space exploration continues unhindered, NASA plans to proceed with an exciting and historic event—an all-woman spacewalk scheduled for October 30. This mission will involve NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, demonstrating the agency’s dedication to diversity and inclusion in space travels.
As space agencies work together to investigate the recent leak and maintain the integrity of the ISS, the cosmonauts’ daring spacewalk serves as a poignant reminder of the boundless enthusiasm and unyielding commitment the international space community possesses.
