Stuck Valve at Space Station Threatens Electronics

[n2doc]

A nitrogen valve in the cooling system of the International Space Station is not budging, and may pose a problem.

Wed Apr 14, 2010 08:13 AM

Flight controllers struggled Wednesday to open a stuck valve in a cooling loop at the International Space Station, as the 13 orbiting astronauts enjoyed a little time off after an intense week of hauling supplies and swapping tanks.

The ground controllers tried twice, without success, to command the nitrogen valve by remote control to open. They were debating their next step.

The nitrogen valve failed to open Tuesday after spacewalking astronauts hooked up a new ammonia tank. Nitrogen is needed to pressurize the ammonia coolant.

For now, the space station is being cooled properly. But the valve needs to be opened in the coming days -- or the entire nitrogen unit replaced in a spacewalk. Otherwise, half of the station's electronics may have to be turned off.

more

http://news.discovery.com/space/space-station-stuck-nitrogen-valve.html

[Thor_MN]

1. We need to send up Peter Stormare with a big ass pipe wrench?