Russian cosmonauts avert coolant leak crisis on spacewalk
Dangerous situation on the International Space Station. A Russian astronaut was warned about a threat caused by a coolant leak. It was a close call, and remnants of the coolant almost contaminated Oleg Kononenko's suit.
Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub participated in a spacewalk on the International Space Station to inspect its technical condition. They discovered that the temperature in one of the laboratory modules was significantly rising.
The cosmonauts checked, among other things, the condition of the external radiator. They noticed that there were several holes on the surface of the device that looked as if they had been deliberately drilled. The mission engineer reported that there were plenty of holes.
After detailed inspections, the cosmonauts determined that the gaps were not their main concern. Near the radiator, they noticed a large stain of coolant. They began to clean the liquid, but the leak was difficult to manage.
The coolant soaked, among other things, the tether securing Kononenko. The astronaut's superiors noticed the dangerous situation. They instructed him to leave the contaminated area.
The cosmonaut had to move to a safe location to prevent contamination of his suit. The Russian reported to his superiors that the liquid did not penetrate his suit.
The "Lad Bible" portal reports that the astronauts had special wipes on hand, with which they thoroughly disinfected their equipment. The Russian agency stated that the coolant system on the space station was not seriously damaged, and the lives of the cosmonauts are not in danger.
