Soyuz spacecraft leaking helium
Posted: Wed, Apr 28, 2004, 7:58 PM ET (2358 GMT)
The Soyuz spacecraft that will return three astronauts from the International Space Station later this week is leaking a small amount of helium, but officials said the leak does not pose a major problem. The helium, used to pressurize the spacecraft's propellant tanks, is leaking at a small rate from the Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft. That spacecraft, which has been docked to the station for six months, will undock late Thursday and carry the Expedition 8 crew of Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri, as well as visiting astronaut Andre Kuipers, to Earth. Officials said Wednesday that the Soyuz has more than enough helium on board despite the small leak. The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian officials who did say that the leak could cause the spacecraft so slightly deviate from its course during the time leading up to the deorbit burn.
The Soyuz spacecraft that will return three astronauts from the International Space Station later this week is leaking a small amount of helium, but officials said the leak does not pose a major problem. The helium, used to pressurize the spacecraft's propellant tanks, is leaking at a small rate from the Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft. That spacecraft, which has been docked to the station for six months, will undock late Thursday and carry the Expedition 8 crew of Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri, as well as visiting astronaut Andre Kuipers, to Earth. Officials said Wednesday that the Soyuz has more than enough helium on board despite the small leak. The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian officials who did say that the leak could cause the spacecraft so slightly deviate from its course during the time leading up to the deorbit burn.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, August 19
Spy satellite chief weighs in on reforms
POLITICO — 9:26 am ET (1326 GMT) Perth rocket scientist Enrico Palermo’s space mission with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic
PerthNow — 9:24 am ET (1324 GMT) On cloud nine: Budding Kiwi space tourists ready to follow Sir Richard Branson
New Zealand Herald — 9:22 am ET (1322 GMT) Editorial: Space travel still a fearful prospect
New Zealand Herald — 9:21 am ET (1321 GMT) Why Trump's Space Force is a bad idea, according to a Lehigh prof and former astronaut
Lehighvalleylive — 9:21 am ET (1321 GMT) |
