On Nov. 23, shortly after the Russian Progress MS-29 spacecraft arrived, the International Space Station was hit by a strong odor that the Russian cosmonauts described as “toxic.” In response, NASA astronauts carried out safety procedures to carefully open the hatch between the Poisk module and the Russian vehicle to ensure there was no risk to the crew. Meanwhile, NASA has been investigating the source of the odor and now appears to have identified the cause.
An unusual situation. On Nov. 23, after the Russian Progress MS-29 cargo spacecraft docked with the Poisk module, NASA astronaut Don Pettit detected a strong and unfamiliar smell. He described it as something akin to “spray paint.”
Russian cosmonauts Aleksei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner were the first to notice the unusual odor and small floating droplets when they opened the hatch between the Poisk module and the Progress spacecraft. As a precaution, they quickly closed the hatch and donned protective gear.
Investigation and resolution. In response to the smell issue, NASA activated air purifiers to eliminate any potential contaminants and ensure good air quality throughout the station. More recently, the space agency attributed the odor to the “outgassing from materials” inside the pressurized cargo of the Russian Progress spacecraft. According to NASA representatives, this is a relatively common occurrence in space.
Standard procedures were enacted, including activating air cleaning and ventilation equipment. Additionally, Russian cosmonauts conducted inspections and cleanups. In the end, the odor completely dissipated, allowing for the transfer of three tons of food, fuel, and supplies.
NASA also confirmed that the air quality inside the station has returned to normal, effectively ruling out any risk of contamination.
Previous concerns about the Poisk module. The recent incident adds to a lengthy history of issues associated with the Poisk module. For the past five years, a mysterious leak has raised significant concerns among astronauts.
A recent NASA report cautioned that if the leak isn’t addressed, the ISS could experience a “catastrophic failure.” However, Russian authorities have downplayed the severity of the situation, and no definitive solutions have been implemented so far.
The Russian cargo. The Russian Progress 90 spacecraft will remain docked to the ISS for six months. During this time, it’ll also serve as a container for debris that will be burned upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. Notably, its predecessor, Progress 89, recently performed an orbital maneuver to adjust the ISS’s position and avoid a potential collision with satellite fragments. These kinds of maneuvers have become increasingly common due to the growing amount of space debris.
The future of the ISS. The space station, which has housed astronauts for more than two decades, is expected to remain operational until around 2030. After that, it’ll be retired from orbit and “burn up” in the atmosphere. Assuming everything goes as planned, its remains are expected to fall into the remote Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean.
In addition, NASA has decided not to build a new space station but to delegate this project to private companies. The agency is focusing its efforts on future manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
Image | NASA/Roscosmos
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