NASA still struggling with stuck valve in space station cooling loop
Posted April 14, 2010 10:04 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA isn’t having any luck with a stuck valve in the cooling system of the International Space Station.
Flight controllers tried twice Wednesday to open the nitrogen valve by remote control, but were unsuccessful.
It failed to open Tuesday after the astronauts finished installing a new ammonia tank. Nitrogen is needed to pressurize the ammonia coolant.
NASA is debating the next step. The space station is being cooled properly for now. But the valve needs to be opened in the coming days, or the entire nitrogen unit replaced. Otherwise, half of the electronics may have to be turned off.
The station and shuttle crews, meanwhile, are enjoying a little time off. They’ll part company Saturday.
