Leaky Soyuz spacecraft tests thrusters at space station, US spacewalk delayed

[Boats]

Leaky Soyuz spacecraft tests thrusters at space station, US spacewalk delayed
By: Tariq Malik - Space.com [update] 12-17-22
Re: https://www.space.com/leaky-soyuz-ca...ests-thrusters

1st Photo link: https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eQ...70-80.jpg.webp
The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft is seen in the foreground docked to the Rassvet module of the International Space Station in this image taken in October. 2022. Russia's Nauka laboratory module of the station is seen in the background, with its European Robotic Arm folded up. (Image credit: NASA)

A leaky Soyuz capsule at the International Space Station test-fired its thrusters on Friday (Dec. 16) as Russian engineers investigated why it suffered an uncontrolled coolant spill this week.

The Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft, called Soyuz MS-22, sprang a coolant leak Wednesday night (Dec. 14) as two cosmonauts prepared to take a spacewalk outside the station. Russia's space agency Roscosmos canceled that spacewalk and postponed another indefinitely as it investigates the cause of the coolant leak, which sprayed coolant particles into space from an exterior line on the capsule. On Friday, NASA also delayed a planned U.S. spacewalk to Dec. 21, a two-day slip, as the Soyuz work continues.

Russian engineers ordered the Soyuz MS-22 to fire its thrusters at 3:08 a.m. EST (0808 GMT) on Friday as part of their investigation. The leak has been traced to an exterior coolant loop on the Soyuz spacecraft, NASA has said.

[Note: Soyuz leak could strand 3 astronauts on space station, expert warns].

"The systems that were tested were nominal, and Roscosmos assessments of additional Soyuz systems continue," NASA wrote in an update(opens in new tab) Friday. "Temperatures and humidity within the Soyuz spacecraft, which remains docked to the Rassvet module, are within acceptable limits."

Earlier in the day, a Roscosmos update on Telegram(opens in new tab) stated that temperatures inside the Soyuz reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) and were within operational limits, according to a Google translation from Russian. "This is a slight temperature change," Roscosmos wrote in the statement, according to the translation.

2nd video link: https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RZ...Yaq-970-80.gif
Coolant leaking from Russia's Soyuz crew capsule docked to the International Space Station on Dec. 14, 2022. (Image credit: NASA)

The Soyuz MS-22 is docked to a Russian port on the Earth-facing side of the station. It launched to the station in September to deliver Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to the orbiting lab. It was Prokopyev and Petelin who were planning to take a spacewalk when the leak began on Wednesday evening. By midday Thursday (Dec. 15), most of the coolant had leaked out, NASA said.

Russian engineers are working to determine the health of the Soyuz spacecraft, but whether it can still be used to return its crew to Earth as planned in 2023 is unclear.

Roscosmos has used a European-built robotic arm on Russia's Nauka laboratory module at the station to inspect the Soyuz capsule and reported some signs of damage. NASA, meanwhile, will use the station's Canadian-built Canadarm2 to inspect the Soyuz on Sunday (Dec. 18).

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik(opens in new tab). Follow us @Spacedotcom(opens in new tab), Facebook(opens in new tab) and Instagram(opens in new tab).
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Personal note: Those Kosmonaut's that fly into space must often times wonder
what's going to happen on this launch and/or flight?
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This is damn serious issue - and could've resulted in their loss of lives.
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This coolant leak is significant and will no doubt need repairs in space as well
- The Inspection Team or maintenance management will have to double check
these issue - prior to any further launches.
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But -if I recall - I think they had this happen once before? Fixing it in space
may not be an easy task - and if its external that once thing but if its an
internal issue - they may need additional parts to fix it!
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Note: They are damn lucky to make it to the station without any mishap.
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I suspect the coolant is needed for their return flight to keep from being
burned up within their cabin. How they refuel the lost coolant may not be
readily available - for their return flight - and I would also assume they've
taken a risk going up - and then must wonder will the fix keep them from
burning up going back down. If they need parts that's another issue?
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NASA may be able to help them on their repair - or even possibly have
to send repair equipment up on another launch? The Kosmonaughts have
to wonder - just how good their engineering - is back home.
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Was it hit by small meteor - or busted by vibration - during launch?
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Something could have impacted that area - who knows - until they check
it out. They may also have an extended period of time on the station until
parts are sent up? If it's repairable? Or maybe they can retrofit something
on the space station?
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I don't think they've updated their space capsule design too much - or
someone may have overlooked this possibility - of such an event
happening - or re-occurring?
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Also it may be and interior repair - and/or exterior issue - then that too
will impact the repair(s) having to be made. How many times had this
vehicle been to space - and has it happened - prior on earlier launches?
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I feel confident that they will resolve the issue - but someone on the
ground will take some heat - if it wasn't considered prior to launch.
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Think positive - all those guys and gals up their are all smart people
and they will figure it out - and/or jury-rig the repair as needed.
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LATE NOTE - Space X is going up there soon - maybe they can bring
the parts up as well - JUST A THOUGHT!
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