NASA considers deploying Crew Dragon to carry ISS astronauts via Soyuz escape – IT Professional – News

NASA is investigating whether SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule could be used as a transport to Earth from the ISS. It is supposed to be an alternative to the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, in which a flaw was discovered earlier this month.

NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are still investigating the cause of the leaking coolant tube on Soyuz MS-22. which was discovered in mid-December. The spacecraft was supposed to return three astronauts, two Russians and one American, to Earth early next year.

“We’ve asked SpaceX some questions about their ability to return additional Dragon crew members if needed, but we’re not currently focusing on that,” NASA spokeswoman Sandra Jones said in a statement. a statement to Reuters. It’s unclear exactly what NASA has asked SpaceX about the capsule’s capabilities. SpaceX has not yet responded to Reuters’ questions.

Ultimately, the best way to send crew members back depends on the outcome of the investigation. The leak could be a perforation caused by a meteoroid, but it could also have been caused by the impact of a piece of space debris. A hardware failure on the Soyuz spacecraft is also considered. In January, NASA and Roscosmos will decide how to transport the astronauts and when, writes Space.com.