Reports of an ammonia leak in the International Space Station’s cooling system sent two astronauts on an unscheduled spacewalk today, which was documented as it happened by Commander Chris Hadfield. Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn were charged with heading outside to investigate and replace a 260-pound pump controller box.
Good Morning, Earth! A complex & vital day on Space Station, as Tom and Chris suit up and go outside to help fix the ammonia leak. Busy day!
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Tom and Chris in the final stages of readying the suits and airlock for their spacewalk. A full day’s prep. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Chris and Tom are safely outside ISS, hard at work in the vacuum of space, looking for signs of the ammonia leak. THAT was a busy AM inside.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
The repair mission was streamed live via the Internet as well via helmet-mounted cameras.
Do you hear how different their voices sound at the suit’s low pressure? Turns out in the 4.2 psi oxygen you can’t whistle – air’s too thin.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
The spacewalking suit has pure oxygen at 4.2 psi – a trade-off between flexibility and crew health and fire risk. It is a workout to wear.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
The reason they regularly check their gloves is for damage. Even though multi-layer, even a tiny leak requires immediate haste to airlock.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Houston just sent the command to start flowing ammonia through the newly-installed pump. Gloved fingers crossed.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
No leaks! We’re bringing Tom & Chris back inside. In two days Tom, Roman & I return to Earth in our Soyuz. This is an amazing place & time.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Dr. Tom Marshburn, well-dressed for a day’s work outdoors. Friend for life. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Chris Cassidy, Navy SEAL and lead spacewalker today. The nicest iron man you’ll ever meet. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Climbing out of the airlock, quite the commute to work! twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
Here’s looking at you. Chris and Tom take a minute with visors to look up-sun at my camera in the window. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 11, 2013
@cmdr_hadfield Genuinely thrilled to hear about the ammonia leak fix. Wish you all very well. The earth awaits you 🙂 Much love!
— Meera Damji (@MeeMeera) May 11, 2013
