Russia blames ISS incident on software glitch | News | DW

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Russia said on Friday that a software failure caused the thrusters in its new lab module to ignite and the International Space Station (ISS) to relocate after the new module docked.

Engines at Nauka’s new science lab ignited three hours after docking with the ISS on Thursday, pushing the entire space station out of position for 47 minutes before NASA’s ground crew managed to resolve the issue. .

Russian space agency bosses said they would work on modifying a newly connected module that was involved in the minor crash.

What did Russia say?

Vladimir Soloviev, flight director for the Russian segment of the ISS, said the situation was contained on the Nauka.

“Due to a short-term software failure, a direct command was mistakenly implemented to turn on the module motors for removal, resulting in some change in the orientation of the complex as a whole,” Soloviev said.

Russia’s Roscosmos space program chief Dmitry Rogozin said “a human factor” could have been part of the problem.

The International Space Station is growing every year

Rogozin said the seven crew members on board felt “euphoria” after the new module was successfully docked, after which “everyone relaxed”.

However, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky told worried space fans not to “worry” after reading the comments on Twitter.

“Our work at the International Space Station to integrate the newly arrived Nauka module continues! He tweeted.

What now for the ISS?

Two Russian cosmonauts, three NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a European astronaut who were never in danger during the incident will now proceed to take possession of their enlarged space station.

“The crew are now busy balancing the pressure in the Nauka module,” said Soloviev,

“In the afternoon, the crew will open the hatches, enter the module, activate the means necessary to purify the atmosphere and begin normal regular work.”

Rogozin called the way the software problem was handled by everyone a “very difficult and important victory” on Twitter.

The Nauka, which means “Science” in Russian, will add a new science lab and living quarters to the ISS complex.

The 22 ton (20 metric ton) module is equipped with its own life support system which is now hermetically sealed to the space station.

Rogozin said a new Russian space module will be launched to the ISS in November.

By then, NASA’s delayed Boeing Starliner capsule could also be part of the growing space station, with launch slated for early August.

jc / rs (Reuters, AP)

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