A Russian oxygen supply system in the International Space Station has failed due to a breakdown, the Russian space agency Roscosmos told French news agency AFP on Thursday, adding that the crew is not in danger.
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At 10:31 pm Belgian time, the electron-VM oxygen supply system in the Russian control module Zvezda failed. A system in the US segment of the spacemeccano is operating normally. “Nothing threatens the safety of the crew and the ISS,” emphasizes Roscosmos.
The crew will carry out repairs in the module on Thursday.
On Wednesday afternoon, the American Chris Cassidy and the Russians Anatoli Ivanichin plus Ivan Vagner welcomed three newcomers who arrived with the Soyuz MS-17: the American Kathleen Rubins, and the Russians Sergey Ryjikov as well as Sergey Kud-Svertstjkov.
The problem with the Elektron is the latest incident on the ISS after the crew discovered an air leak on board in August. At the time, Roscosmos emphasized that the leak was not significant and posed no danger.
However, the crew had to spend a weekend in the Russian segment that month, while the American segment was looking for the source of the oxygen loss.
The crew believes they have now found the source of the leak from a tea bag, Ivanichin reported. In weightlessness, the tea bag has flown in the direction of the leak. Photos and video images captured the flight direction of the thing.
According to Roscosmos, the crew members will receive precise instructions to repair the leak. That would be done with adhesive tape.
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