Thruster Misfire on Russian Module Knocks Space Station Out of Position

Space Station Stable After Earlier Unplanned MLM Thruster Firing

Following the docking of the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), named Nauka (the Russian word for “science”) to the International Space Station at 9:29 am EDT, Russian cosmonauts aboard the space station conducted leak checks between Nauka and the service module. At 12:45 pm, the flight control team noticed the unplanned firing of MLM thrusters that caused the station to move out of orientation. Ground teams have regained attitude control and the motion of the space station is stable.

The crew was never and is not in any danger, and flight controllers in Mission Control Houston are monitoring the status of the space station.

NASA and Boeing have decided to stand down from Friday’s launch attempt of the agency’s Orbital Flight Test-2 mission. Currently, launch teams are assessing the next available opportunity. The move allows the International Space Station team time to continue working checkouts of the newly arrived Roscosmos’ Nauka module and to ensure the station will be ready for Starliner’s arrival.

Never miss a breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter.
Follow us on Google and Google News.