Soyuz spacecraft docked at ISS spring coolant leaks



CNN

A spacewalk planned by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos has been called off after a coolant leak was discovered on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft currently docked at the International Space Station.

NASA’s Rob Navias called it a “pretty big” leak during a NASA telecast. Live images during the live broadcast showed liquid spraying from the Soyuz. Navias said the leak was first observed around 7:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

A Soyuz spacecraft docked on the Russian portion of the space station.

In a Russian-language statement posted on Twitter Thursday morning, Roscosmos said the crew was safe and all systems on the space station and spacecraft were functioning normally. (CNN translated the statement.)

“The crew reported that the warning device of the diagnostic system on board was switched off, indicating a pressure drop in the cooling system,” Roscosmos said. EVA planned by Terry Petrin’s crew.”

The cause of the coolant leak is “unknown and the current impact is unknown as Russian managers continue to review data and consult with NASA managers and engineers” as well as outside experts, Navias said. Astronauts on board the space station were “never in any danger,” he said.

According to Roscosmos, Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina “photographed and photographed the outer surface of the spacecraft” using a camera on the space station’s Russian Nauka module. “The data has been transmitted to Earth, and experts have begun studying the images.”

“No decision has been made regarding the integrity of Soyuz MS-22 or what the next steps will be,” Navias added, ending NASA television coverage of the canceled spacewalk.

Roscosmos added that the situation will be analyzed before deciding what happens next.

NASA took a similar stance in a statement Thursday: “NASA and Roscosmos will continue to work together to determine next steps based on ongoing analysis.”

The Soyuz MS-22 delivered NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and two Russian cosmonauts to the space station on Sept. 21 and is scheduled to bring them back to Earth in late March.

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