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Space station crew waits for supply ship
NASA says astronauts not in danger
April 5, 1997
Web posted at: 4:52 p.m. EST (2152 GMT)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- Space station Mir is running on empty -- almost.
The 11-year-old space station is using backup oxygen generation and air-purification systems, but NASA officials say the problems are under control and the crew is safe.
"I think right now they're in a good situation," said Frank Culbertson, NASA's head of shuttle-Mir operations. "Our people in Moscow talked to them this morning and they're all in very good spirits."
The crew was forced to shut down the primary carbon dioxide scrubbing system on Friday because it was getting warm, NASA officials said.
A L S O Mir's age begins to show
Shuttle crew tackles problem power generator
The system is used to clean excess carbon dioxide from the air in the station's cabin. The Russian cosmonauts and U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger on Thursday began using a backup carbon dioxide scrubbing system, which uses lithium-hydroxide canisters.
NASA officials in Houston say the shutdown of the primary system was a direct result of the ongoing repairs to the Mir's primary cooling system. The crew hopes to complete its cooling system repairs by the end of the week and turn the carbon dioxide scrubbing system back on when the work is done.
If its work cannot be finished by this weekend, it will keep the secondary carbon dioxide scrubbing system online. The crew has an eight-day supply of lithium hydroxide canisters, and the re-supply ship Progress, scheduled for launch from Russia on Sunday, will bring more.
"When the Progress arrives on Tuesday, the first repair will be to the electron system .. which produces oxygen for the crew to breathe," Culbertson said. " ... In addition they have repair parts that will make the cooling system more efficient and allow them to restart the CO2 removal system."
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NASA is also considering carrying up a spare oxygen generator aboard space shuttle Atlantis during its mission next month to pick up Linenger.
As Mir has aged over its 11 years in orbit, it has experienced more malfunctions.
"Like any outpost, or any station in space, you're going to see this period approaching," Culbertson said. "... The Russians have seen this in the past and have dealt with it and they have a plan in place to continue operating the Mir with increased maintenance."
In February, a fire broke out aboard Mir and burned for 90 seconds, filling the station with smoke and forcing the crew to wear oxygen masks.
Correspondent John Zarrella contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Mir's age begins to show - April 5, 1997
- New oxygen problems on Mir - April 4, 1997
- Atlantis prepares to undock from Mir - January 19, 1997
- NASA astronaut says you can't beat the Mir - May 29, 1996
- Mir + 10 - February 20, 1996
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