The previous leak in 2018 was a 2mm machine drilled hole from the inside.
Unfortunately, the only thing we don’t know is who did it and why. In this case I am sure that the cause will also be found. 9/10 a micro-meteorite.
For the wondering: Small holes are no problem in space. You can temporarily hold it closed with your finger and cover it with plain duct tape.
In this case there is not a hole in the cabin but in a cooling pipe. Soyuz MS-22 consists of 3 parts.
1. Orbital Module (docking station, life support, toilet)
2. Descent Module (to return to Earth)
3. Service Module (oxygen, electricity, battery backup, fuel, thrust etc during space transit)
The leak is in the cold pipes of the Soyuz MS-22 service module, just at the attachment of the solar arrays. There are also fuel tanks for the rocket engine. As far as I know, the Soyuz has been docked with the ISS via the Rasvett module since September 21, 2022.
The question is whether they can still use the form to return and how extensive the damage is. A micro meteor may have hit one of the pipes. Another explanation could be lack of maintenance due to savings. Although less likely, it is already the second time in a short time that Russia has had to postpone its spacewalk due to a technical problem.
However, the service module is a very important module to be able to return to earth because it is responsible for the “de-orbit burn”. If something goes wrong there, there is a good chance that the crew will orbit earth rudderless until until their oxygen is depleted.
In addition to the thrust to reach a lower orbit, this module has another important task and that is to maintain the temperature. The ‘Thermal Control System’ is the active part to regulate the temperature in the modules.
The active section consists of internal and external cooling loops that dissipate heat from the inside out. This now appears to be faulty. But if it was a micro meteor, other systems could have been affected.
[Reactie gewijzigd door Coolstart op 15 december 2022 16:57]
