Watch the video above: Update on the exterior cooling pump problem aboard the ISS
TORONTO – NASA continues to investigate Wednesday’s automatic shutdown of a coolant valve aboard the International Space Station.
One of two external thermal control loops that help to control the temperature externally and internally, automatically shut itself down after detecting an anomaly.
READ MORE: NASA reports coolant failure on ISS
“It’s up and running but there’s a key component of the system called the flow control valve that does not at this time appear to be working properly,” said NASA’s Kenny Todd, ISS Mission Operations Integration Manager.
The system experienced a similar shutdown in 2010, though with a different piece of hardware. In that case, the pump failed; in this instance, there is a problem controlling the temperature.
VIDEO: Incredible time lapse from the International Space Station
Last May, astronauts conducted a space walk to fix an ammonia leak aboard the space station.
The valve regulates temperature in the ammonia in that loop. That in turns help to regulate the water in the heat exchanger.
Due to “checks and balances” in the system, the valve shuts down if the temperature gets too cold, which is likely why it shut down on Wednesday.
However, Todd added that once the system was restarted it became apparent that the temperature still wasn’t correct.
“For that reason, we chose to leave the system not integrated and by doing so that forced us to take…some of the heat lodes of the Node 2, which caused us to power-down…some systems that are considered non-critical.”
“This is a position we don’t want to be in long-term, so the team is continuing to work through the fault-tree of what might be going on with this particular flow-control valve.”
Todd said that the crew is in good shape and continue to go through their day-to-day activities. No critical systems have been affected.
NASA has not confirmed as to whether or not a space walk will be needed to fix the pump, however, all the necessary equipment is on board.
A launch of an Orbital Sciences was scheduled for Dec. 18, however it will be deferred until more is known about the cause of the malfunction.
The launch window for Orbital Sciences can extend to Dec. 21 or 22.
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