Massive astronauts on the ISS

2001/04/03 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Astronautika

For three weeks, astronauts Yuri Usatxev, Jim Voss and Susan Helms have been at the International Space Station, where they have faced a number of technical problems. On the one hand, the launch of the Ku band antenna that will allow transmitting information and images from the station to Earth at high speed progresses slowly. It seems that computer programs cause errors in the orientation of the antenna and that a patch must be sent from Earth. This means that they will have to continue broadcasting in the audio system of the band S, that is, slowly. In addition, data from research conducted in the Destiny module cannot yet be transmitted to Earth.

On the other hand, there are Destiny module devices that do not work properly. On the one hand, one of the condensation removal systems does not work and has had to increase the room temperature to prevent condensation, and on the other, they have not yet managed to launch the CO2 elimination system. The culprit is considered to be a defective valve. At the moment, since only three people are in ISS, they are solved with what is in the Zvezda module, but in the future it is essential to launch what is in the Destiny module.

Delays and restrictions

Image of the TransHab room.

On Earth there is still talk of the budgetary constraint that NASA has claimed in early March. If the TransHab room, which would be inhabited by astronauts, is not finally launched, it will be difficult to have seven astronauts on the ISS as announced, and seeing the superiority of the Americans and Russians, the rest of the project countries complain. Therefore, the promoters of the Enterprise business module may modify their initial objectives and adapt to those of residence. Thus, when launched in 2003, space agencies could rent it as a "hotel" until the TransHab room is clarified. However, it is necessary to have emergency vehicles that are not very clear. Since the X-33 of the Americans was suspended, it seems that the Russian ships Soiuz will be in charge of carrying out this work.

The Russians, for their part, have decided to delay almost a month the next launch of the Progress, loaded with loads for the crew. What is now on the ISS will return to Earth in the middle of the month, a few days before the arrival of the American space shuttle and Soyuz TM32.