Moscow. August 9. INTERFAX.RU – The exact reason for the abnormal operation of the engines on the laboratory module “Science” after docking to the International Space Station (ISS) will be named in 2-3 weeks, said the head of the ISS program at NASA Joel Montalbano during a video broadcast by NASA.
“We work with our Russian colleagues, we contact them on a regular basis. Several times a week, flight control centers, mission control groups on both sides communicate with each other. (…) It's too early to talk about it. We work together, but, we will probably be able to say something concrete about this situation only in a few weeks – in 2-3 weeks, “Montalbano answered when asked about the investigation of the incident and the timing of the publication of its results.
On July 29, as reported by NASA, there was an abnormal start of the Nauka engines, which caused the station to turn 45 degrees. To compensate for the impulse, the engines of the Zvezda module and the Progress cargo vehicle had to be used. Roskosmos explained the incident with work with fuel leftovers in the Science module.
On July 30, an operation was carried out on the ISS to purge the Nauka fuel system with helium in order to ensure safety.
According to Roscosmos, cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov boarded the Nauka module docked to the ISS. It was noted that they will carry out a control examination of the compartments, take air samples and install an atmosphere purification filter unit.
The module launch dates have been repeatedly postponed. Initially, the launch of “Science” was scheduled for 2017, but was postponed to 2018 due to a blockage in the fuel system. The blockage could have provoked a breakdown of the ISS propulsion system, so the module was returned to the manufacturer for revision. Rogozin later said that the main reason for the problems with the fuel system of Nauka was not a blockage, but a defect.
The new Russian module will ensure the implementation of the scientific research program in the interests of fundamental science and the social sphere, including the development and expansion of the resources of the Russian segment of the ISS.
