Another Russian module develops leak on ISS
For the third time in less than a year, a Russian spacecraft at ISS has developed a coolant leak, this time in Russia’s newest module to ISS, Nauka.
The Nauka radiator actually has been in space for over a decade waiting for Nauka to arrive so whether there is any commonality to the failures is difficult to assess. Roscosmos acknowledged the leak, but said the module itself is working fine and there is no cause for concern.
The previous two leaks were on a Progress freighter, and later on a Soyuz capsule. Though Nauka was only launched to ISS in 2021, its development began in the 1990s and was originally scheduled for launch in the early 2000s. Because of the delays this radiator was launched to ISS ahead of the module, in 2012. It sits outside the module where it can release its excess heat into space.
The Russians say that the leak is in a backup coolant system, but according to a statement by Anatoli Zak quoted at the link, this statement is too vague. At the moment the location of the leak remains unknown.
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For the third time in less than a year, a Russian spacecraft at ISS has developed a coolant leak, this time in Russia’s newest module to ISS, Nauka.
The Nauka radiator actually has been in space for over a decade waiting for Nauka to arrive so whether there is any commonality to the failures is difficult to assess. Roscosmos acknowledged the leak, but said the module itself is working fine and there is no cause for concern.
The previous two leaks were on a Progress freighter, and later on a Soyuz capsule. Though Nauka was only launched to ISS in 2021, its development began in the 1990s and was originally scheduled for launch in the early 2000s. Because of the delays this radiator was launched to ISS ahead of the module, in 2012. It sits outside the module where it can release its excess heat into space.
The Russians say that the leak is in a backup coolant system, but according to a statement by Anatoli Zak quoted at the link, this statement is too vague. At the moment the location of the leak remains unknown.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
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I guess they will claim that the CIA is working overtime to damage their reputation.
I will claim manufacturing failures. Something like inconsistent tubing manufacturing and inspections.
What is common among all the failed parts?
Is anyone asking when the next failure is going to be a catastrophic one?