IEEE SPECTRUM On-Line: Breathing Easy in Space Is Never Easy

IEEE SPECTRUM On-Line: Breathing Easy in Space Is Never Easy

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/nov06/4713

James Oberg // October 31, 2006

Problems with oxygen generators aboard the space station could have big
implications

During the hectic coming-and-going of visiting space crews aboard the
International Space Station in September, the startling bulletin about a
fire in its all-important oxygen-generating system was quickly denied and
just as quickly overtaken by events. But the emergency-which, it turns out,
was not a fire-has profound implications for the space station's immediate
performance and long-term survival.

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To Probe Further

To read more on "closed-loop" life support, visit the following Web sites:

http://www.jamesoberg.com/elektron2_tec.html

http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/NEWSROOM/ba...acts/eclss.pdf

http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2006-01-2057

It's running again, at least for awhile -- let's see how long it lasts...



Oct 31 on-orbit status --
Mikhail Tyurin's repair work on the Elektron oxygen generator was
successful. After an initial air-bubble-caused shutdown of the micropumps
and a nitrogen purge of the gas analyzer, the electrolysis machine came up
on the second try and is currently running on the backup pump at 32 amps,
producing O2.

Appended this 'November 1 Update"

On Tuesday [Oct 31] , cosmonaut Tyurin switched on the repaired unit. Igor Panarin, official spokesman for the Russian Space Agency, declared that " we can safely say that is now operating normally," and press accounts passed on the good news. However, NASA's website on Wednesday morning had a different account: "An initial attempt to turn it on failed, but a second attempt did activate the unit. It ran for a short period before failing to its backup pump where it now continues to run." And during the daily live coverage of station activities aired later that morning, NASA commentator John Ira Petty disclosed that the unit had been turned off again, "deliberately", to allow Mission Control in Moscow to "perform more troubleshooting". The crew continues to use bottled oxygen from the newest 'Progress' freighter, and the saga of the space oxygen supplies goes on and on.


"Jim Oberg" wrote in message ...
IEEE SPECTRUM On-Line: Breathing Easy in Space Is Never Easy

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/nov06/4713

James Oberg // October 31, 2006

Appended this 'November 1 Update"

On Tuesday [Oct 31] , cosmonaut Tyurin switched on the repaired unit. Igor Panarin, official spokesman for the Russian Space Agency, declared that " we can safely say that is now operating normally," and press accounts passed on the good news. However, NASA's website on Wednesday morning had a different account: "An initial attempt to turn it on failed, but a second attempt did activate the unit. It ran for a short period before failing to its backup pump where it now continues to run." And during the daily live coverage of station activities aired later that morning, NASA commentator John Ira Petty disclosed that the unit had been turned off again, "deliberately", to allow Mission Control in Moscow to "perform more troubleshooting". The crew continues to use bottled oxygen from the newest 'Progress' freighter, and the saga of the space oxygen supplies goes on and on.


"Jim Oberg" wrote in message ...
IEEE SPECTRUM On-Line: Breathing Easy in Space Is Never Easy

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/nov06/4713

James Oberg // October 31, 2006



Jim:

I am seeing on Spaceref.com they are getting close to the 45 day
decrewing limits possibly.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.nl.html?id=1169

Dates around Dec 11 to as far away as Feb 4, 2007.

Comments, thoughts anyone???

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