VIDEO. Fright for an astronaut on the ISS - The Point

The Point.fr – Published on 17/07/2013 at 10:46 am

NASA has launched an investigation to determine the origin of the mysterious water leak that caused the interruption of an emergency spacewalk.

NASA trying Tuesday to determine the origin of the mysterious leak in the helmet of an Italian astronaut who caused the interruption of emergency spacewalk to International Space Station (ISS). “After a little over an hour in space, Luca Parmitano, the European Space Agency, said having water floating behind his head inside his helmet,” said the agency American space.

Parmitano and American astronaut Chris Cassidy, who accompanied him, were suddenly interrupted hastily their mission and returned to the orbital laboratory research 29 to 15 h, depending on the television Nasa. Crew members were then immediately removed his helmet, allowing the escape of large drops of water in weightlessness. “Dip the head in an aquarium and try to walk,” he told David Korth, the flight director at NASA to describe the sensation experienced by Parmitano. NASA has assured that it was investigating an attempt to understand the origin of the leak, but stressed that the two astronauts had at no time been in danger during what should have been a routine mission.

Analysis

“At this point, we are faced with a problem that we do not know the cause,” said Kenny Todd, an official of the mission. “Luca told us that the water (in his helmet) had an odd taste,” said Chris Cassidy shortly after the incident control center of NASA, based in Houston, Texas (southern United States). “For him, this water clearly not tasted the water that we drink here,” he said, adding that samples recovered from the liquid would be analyzed. The flight is part of the back of the helmet Parmitano, still said Cassidy, who said his colleague was “going good.”

Karina Eversley, who heads the spacewalks, said it was “unlikely” that the leak comes from drinking water worn by astronauts to drink. However, it is possible that the liquid escaped from the cooling system of the combination of Luca Parmitano. The objective of the spacewalk, the second of two scheduled this month, was to prepare the ISS for the arrival of a new Russian module and perform some repairs. The mission lasted 1 hour and 32 minutes, then it was supposed to be 6 hours and 15 minutes, according to NASA.

Prime Italian astronaut

Parmitano Luca, who is the first Italian astronaut to be released into space by conducting the second output of his career. His first experience dates back to July 9, also accompanied by Cassidy. He then told his impressions on his blog, explaining that “put a coat astronaut requires considerable efforts, especially the upper part,” but providing “feel so good (in space) that (he ) can not stop smiling. ” Parmitano arrived in May Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft with two other astronauts: Russian Fedor Iourtchikhine and American Karen Nyberg. They are joined Russians Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Missourkine, as Cassidy. American

On 14 May, three other astronauts to the ISS were returned to Earth after five months in space, including the Canadian Chris Hadfield, who has gained worldwide popularity by sharing experiences on social networks. Parmitano and his two colleagues arrived at the same time he must spend six months aboard the station. Flights “express” to the ISS were decided after Russia had successfully launched three freighters Progress in August, October and February, who joined the station in a six hour flight. Russia, now the only country capable of sending astronauts to the ISS after the disposal of the last U.S. space shuttle in summer 2011, wishes to focus on the new procedure for future flights vessels to the international space station.