3.03.2021
On March 1, the cosmonauts will fill the crack with the sealant, then lay polyurethane foam and patch up the fracture with the tape
The work to seal the crack in the intermediate chamber of the Russian Zvezda module of the International Space Station (ISS) will begin on March 1 and last five days, Russia’s Flight Control Center said during talks with the orbital outpost on Monday.
"Our work in the intermediate chamber is planned [for] five days, beginning from today," a Flight Control Center specialist said during the communications session broadcast live on NASA’s website.
On March 1, the cosmonauts will fill the crack with the sealant, then lay polyurethane foam and patch up the fracture with the tape, the Flight Control Center specified.
"The work [must be carried out] with the use of individual protection gear," the specialist stressed. Specifically, the cosmonauts would need to use alcohol wipes and respirators and carry out work on command from Earth instead of using a timing diagram, he said.
As follows from the talks, then a hole will be drilled at one of the fracture’s ends, which will be filled with cold welding and sealed with a fluoroplastic film on top. The same procedure will be done with other holes. After that, the surface will be sanded and wiped with alcohol wipes and covered with a sealant. Overall, the cosmonauts will put three layers of the sealant.
Air pressure in the intermediate chamber of the Zvezda module
On the evening of February 26, the cosmonauts closed the hatch of the intermediate chamber. The air pressure measured 730 mm Hg at the time. During the weekend, the Russian crewmembers monitored the air pressure in the intermediate chamber every four hours. The cosmonauts reported on Monday morning that the air pressure measured 465 mm Hg.
The press office of the Russian space agency Roscosmos told TASS last week that the cosmonauts had temporarily isolated several possible air leak spots. Following this, the Russian crewmembers opened and examined them with the help of a microscope and other instruments and then temporarily sealed them again. This week, the cosmonauts are planning to seal the first crack.
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Cosmonauts register air pressure drop in orbital outpost’s compartment with air leak
"The air pressure in the compartments of the intermediate chamber is 730 [mm of mercury] and 465 [mm of mercury] at present," the cosmonaut reported during the talks with Earth broadcast live on NASA’s website.
On February 26, the Russian cosmonauts closed the hatch of the intermediate chamber. The air pressure measured 730 mm of mercury there at that time. During the weekend, the Russian crewmembers monitored the air pressure in the intermediate chamber every four hours.
The press office of the Russian space agency Roscosmos told TASS last week that the cosmonauts had temporarily isolated several possible air leak spots. Following this, the Russian crewmembers opened them and examined them with the help of a microscope and other instruments and then temporarily sealed them again. This week, the cosmonauts are planning to seal the first crack.
Quelle: TASS
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Update: 5.03.2021
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Russian cosmonaut to patch crack in Zvezda module aboard orbital outpost
"Today the ISS Russian crew will carry out a series of repair and recovery measures as part of the work for removing the air leakage in the Zvezda module. Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov will prepare the surface before applying the third layer of the sealant, inject the sealant and place a patch on the suspected air leakage spot in the hull," the press office said.
The work is being carried out under the direction of specialists of the main operational group for control of the ISS Russian segment, it said.
This week, cosmonauts Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov are carrying out repair and recovery work in the Russian Zvezda module where a crack and some potential air leak spots were detected. The Russian crewmembers are carrying out all their operations under the direction of the ISS Russian Segment’s main operational control group and Energia engineers are involved in the effort.
All the Russian crew’s operations are being agreed with NASA specialists stage-by-stage on an instruction from state corporation Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin.
The Roscosmos press office told TASS last week that the cosmonauts had temporarily isolated several possible air leak spots. Following this, the Russian cosmonauts opened and examined them with the help of a microscope and other instruments and sealed them again for the time being. The work to seal the second fracture will begin on March 8-9.
Quelle: TASS
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Update: 12.03.2021
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Russian cosmonauts complete work to seal cracks aboard orbital outpost
Last week, cosmonauts Ryzhikov and Kud-Sverchkov carried out repair and recovery work in the Russian Zvezda module where a crack and some potential air leak spots had been detected. The Russian crewmembers conducted all the operations under the direction of the ISS Russian Segment’s main operational control group and Energia engineers.
All the Russian crew’s operations are being agreed with NASA specialists stage-by-stage on an instruction from state corporation Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin.
Last week, cosmonaut Ryzhikov applied three layers of a sealant and placed a patch on the first crack in the Zvezda module. On March 6, he applied another layer of the sealant from the end of the installed patch.
On March 8, the cosmonauts elaborated a detailed plan under the direction of specialists from the ISS Russian Segment’s main operational control group for further repair and recovery work. The Russian crewmembers also prepared the necessary equipment for treating the module’s surface, applying the sealant and placing a patch. On March 9, they started work to seal the second crack.
Quelle: TASS