It was probably a meteorite that damaged the Russian Soyuz space capsule. Now the crew is dealing with the consequences. Because a cooling unit has failed, the temperatures in the module are tropical. But there is probably no danger for the cosmonauts.
According to information from Moscow, the leak in the Russian Soyuz space capsule does not currently pose a threat to the crew of the International Space Station ISS. “The safety and comfort of the crew are not threatened by anything,” said the Russian space agency Rosmoskos in Moscow. Accordingly, temperatures in the Soyuz MS-22 module are currently between 28 and 30 degrees. This is within the limits and not critical for the operation of the technology.
Reports of an alleged rise in temperature to 50 degrees are wrong, the authority had previously announced. The leak on the Russian space capsule docked with the ISS appeared on Thursday. In addition to the outer coating, a cooling unit was also damaged. A possible cause is the collision with a micrometeorite.
Because of the defect, a planned spacewalk by two cosmonauts had to be cancelled. The two Russians Sergei Prokopjev and Dmitri Petelin were supposed to leave the station on Thursday in the early hours of the morning to work outside the ISS.
The two cosmonauts and cosmonaut Anna Kikina were still busy cleaning and would then be free after midday until Monday, they said. The engines of the module had been successfully tested. There is currently no reason for the crew to return from the ISS early.
Nevertheless, according to the information, preparations are being made for the damaged module for a possibly premature return to earth. It is still unclear whether the Soyuz can be used for the return of the crew in March, as was originally intended.
According to Sergey Krikalyov, head of the manned space program at Roskosmos, the investigation of possible consequences for the ISS mission is still ongoing. A decision on the use of the Soyuz is expected to be made at a meeting scheduled for late December.
