When Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year, the two NASA astronauts on board discovered several minor faults in its propulsion system, leading to a much longer than expected stay on the ISS. This led to headlines about the astronauts being 'stranded' in space and a renewed interest in the subject of space rescue. Astronauts normally leave the ISS in the same vehicle they arrived in - and that's as true in the case of an emergency evacuation as a routine departure. Hence any problem with the spacecraft - even a relatively minor one - is a potential worry. If the problem is deemed to put the astronauts' lives at risk, then a replacement spacecraft will be sent up. That's what happened last year after a micrometeorite hit Soyuz MS-22 while it was docked to the ISS and put a hole in its external radiator. The resulting loss of coolant meant its crew couldn't use it to return to Earth, so a replacement vehicle, Soyuz MS-23, was sent up in its place.
This was the mildest form of 'space rescue', and fortunately most real-world incidents have been equally easy to deal with. But that won't always be the case, and authorities have worried about worst case scenarios since the dawn of the space age. As long ago as 1967, the United Nations agreed an international treaty that 'calls for the rendering of all possible assistance to astronauts in the event of accident, distress or emergency landing'. Here we'll look at some of the systems that have been developed to facilitate this including the Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue, or SAFER. This is a self-rescue system that astronauts can use during an extravehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk.
ISS EMERGENCY DRILLS
Denne historien er fra Issue 194-utgaven av How It Works UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 194-utgaven av How It Works UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
RESCUE IN SPACE
Fortunately, space emergencies are a rare occurrence, but astronauts and space agencies need to be prepared for any eventuality that might arise
NEANDERTHAL LIVING
Why our prehistoric cousins were pioneers, not clueless apes
BUILDING ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
One World Trade Center rose from the ashes of the Twin Towers. Now, as the tallest building in New York City, it looks to the skies and the future. Here's how this sustainable and secure record-breaker was built
BECOME A SMARTPHONE SCIENTIST
Amazing tips and tricks to transform your smartphone into a bug-finding, star-spotting, data-gathering device
LIFTING THE LID ON ANTARCTICA
What was the coldest continent like without ice?
URBAN WILDLIFE
How wild animals have evolved to thrive alongside humans in towns and cities
WHAT IS SUNBURN?
How solar rays can leave us red, sore and irritated
ALL ABOUT FAT
Fat is a complex, active organ. Here's how genetics, evolution, lifestyle and diet dictate how much we have beneath our skin
The Space Force is launching lasers into orbit
The Space Force aims to better pinpoint the location of Earth's true centre using lasers on GPS satellites, slated to launch in 2025. A set of Laser Retroreflector Arrays, or LRAS, will be installed onto two GPS III satellites, SV9 and SV10, as part of NASA's Space Geodesy Program. The lasers are designed to make precise sub-centimetre measurements using a technique called Satellite Laser Ranging, which will allow researchers to more accurately determine Earth's centre.
Eating too much sugar may accelerate cellular ageing
A nutrient-rich diet with few added sugars may slow the rate of biological ageing in women. Scientists found that middle-aged women who ate more foods packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants had 'younger looking' cells than those who consumed less nutrient-rich diets.