Author Topic: Possible ammonia leak inside the ISS - January 14th 2015 (Read 71265 times)

max_schmurz · « **Reply #20 on:** 01/14/2015 11:16 am »

Now crew is trying to call to mr Ostapenko (head of Roscosmos)

max_schmurz · « **Reply #21 on:** 01/14/2015 11:21 am »

And finally they've managed to call him. "No panic aboard"

Targeteer · « **Reply #22 on:** 01/14/2015 11:22 am »

Mr Ostapenko was reached on his cell-phone and they are jabbering on the loop now. An update from Houston is being clobbered and unintelligible. Cosmonauts are talking about camping out the Russian section over night.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #23 on:** 01/14/2015 11:22 am »

They are asking about when they can re-enter the USOS. For now they are going to camp out in the Russian section.

max_schmurz · « **Reply #24 on:** 01/14/2015 11:22 am »

Get ready to sleep all the crew in Russian segment

max_schmurz · « **Reply #25 on:** 01/14/2015 11:24 am »

And they will try to call mr Rogozin

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 01/14/2015 11:29 am »

NASA ‏@NASA 4m4 minutes ago
#NASA TV #ISS update in about 20 minutes. Crew is safe. No ammonia leak confirmed. Crew responded to coolant loop pressure increases.

Targeteer · « **Reply #27 on:** 01/14/2015 11:40 am »

ISS update on NASA TV at 745am EST--5 minutes

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #28 on:** 01/14/2015 11:42 am »

NASA:
Flight controllers are not sure if the alarm was triggered by a pressure spike, a faulty sensor, or a problem in a computer relay box.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #29 on:** 01/14/2015 11:44 am »

Targeteer · « **Reply #30 on:** 01/14/2015 11:45 am »

now 0750

laughninja · « **Reply #31 on:** 01/14/2015 11:46 am »

Quote from: max_schmurz on 01/14/2015 11:21 am

And finally they've managed to call him. "No panic aboard"

Expedition 42. Don't Panic

Targeteer · « **Reply #32 on:** 01/14/2015 11:48 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #33 on:** 01/14/2015 11:49 am »

Interface Heat Exchangers (IFHX) documentation in L2 bumped. Will use in an article if this gets mentioned as a suspect.

Targeteer · « **Reply #34 on:** 01/14/2015 11:52 am »

music started

Targeteer · « **Reply #35 on:** 01/14/2015 11:53 am »

Cosmonauts instructed to perform recovery of 40 and 41s vehicles and confirm fan functionality

Space Pete · « **Reply #36 on:** 01/14/2015 11:54 am »

Ammonia can enter the ISS via what is called an Interface Heat Exchanger (IFHX) - this is a piece of hardware that transfers the heat from the internal LTL (Low Temperature Loop) or MTL (Moderate Temperature Loop) water coolant loops, to the external ammonia coolant loops.

There are 10 IFHXs on the ISS in total - 2 on the US Lab, 6 on Node 2, and 2 on Node 3. They are located outside the pressure vessel on the endcones of their respective modules.

It is possible for ammonia to enter the ISS via the IFHX since both the external ammonia loop and the internal water loop are connected to the heat exchanger - so if the exchanger fails, ammonia can flow from outside to inside. In this case, it seems the concern is with one of the Node 2 IFHXs that transfers heat from the internal LTL to the external coolant loop B.

IFHXs can be R&Rd via EVA if necessary.

L2 members, have a look at the IFHX FRAT (Failure Response Analysis Team) document here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28291

Targeteer · « **Reply #37 on:** 01/14/2015 11:55 am »

lots of folks in mission control Houston

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #38 on:** 01/14/2015 11:56 am »

Rob Navias making a big point about no actual leak detected.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #39 on:** 01/14/2015 11:58 am »

Lots of folk in meetings in the FCR.