Equipment failures on the “Science” module were abnormal and unexpected. About this RIA Novosti told the General Designer of the RSC Energia, the head of the flight of the Russian segment of the ISS, Vladimir Soloviev.
“The list of abnormal laboratory module” Science “of abnormal situations arose during the autonomous flight, unfortunately, turned out to be quite extensive,” explained Cosmonaut, twice the hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Soloviev.
The head of the flight of the Russian segment of the ISS explained that the crew faced the problems of two types – with the fuel system and sensors. “The third problem associated with software has arisen already after docking,” added Speaker.
Solovyov stressed that due to the problem with the valve in the fuel system, difficulties have arisen using fuel. The infrared vertical sensors were also denied, which had to use star sensors for the orientation of the module in space.
In addition, there was a software failure, which led to the operation of the engines when the module was already part of the ISS. “All that happened with fuel reserves and software, these are quite serious abnormal situations,” the general designer of the RCC “Energia” summed up.
Earlier, Solovyov said that the cosmonauts found new non-separation cracks in the Russian segment of the International Space Station. They appeared on the oldest, first of the commissioned “Zarya” module.
In particular, the unplanned inclusion of engines of a multifunctional laboratory module (MLM) “Science” after it is connected to the Russian segment of the ISS led to a change in overall orientation in the space of the latter by 540 degrees. MLM docked to the ISS on July 29.