spacetoday.net: ISS oxygen generator breaks down

Posted: Fri, Sep 10, 2004, 1:54 PM ET (1754 GMT)
ISS illustration (NASA)

A balky oxygen generator on the International Space Station has broken down, a malfunction that could jeopardize a crew exchange mission planned for next month if not corrected. The Russian-built Elektron unit, which uses electrolysis to generate oxygen from waste water, broke down this week. The units have a reputation for problems caused by bubbling, but this incident was apparently caused by a problem with a gas analyzer in the unit. The two-man Expedition Nine crew plans to attempt repairs to the unit on Friday, and has also been working to repair another Elektron unit that failed earlier. There is no immediate concern about the problem as the crew has access to backup oxygen supplies in the form of oxygen stored on a Progress cargo craft docked to the station as well as oxygen candles. However, MSNBC reported that if the Elektron problem is not resolved, the launch of a new crew to the station, planned for next month, would have to be postponed, and the current crew could be forced to return to Earth in late October, leaving the station unoccupied.