Your spacesuit ran into a problem and needs to restart
- Reference: 1623952869
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/06/17/spacesuit_reboot/
- Source link:
The IT solution of the ancients reached orbit yesterday as one of a pair of astronauts tasked with [2]fitting a new solar array to the International Space Station (ISS) had to make his way back to the airlock in order to restart his spacesuit.
NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough was not in any great danger during what the US space agency delicately called an "issue" with his spacesuit's display and control module (designed to provide a spacewalker with information on the status of the suit). Controllers also noted a spike in the pressure reading for his sublimator (used to keep things cool) and so sent the astronaut back to the airlock to perform a restart.
[3]
Kimbrough connected his suit back to the ISS umbilicals for the restart and, when the teams ascertained the procedure was successful, returned to assist ESA's Thomas Pesquet in fitting the new ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA).
[4]Spacewalk veterans take a trip outside the ISS to pump up the power with new solar arrays
[5]NASA's first all-woman spacewalk outside ISS cancelled – due to lack of spacesuits that fit
[6]Holes patched in Russian segment of the ISS though pesky pressure loss continues
[7]Ground control? My space helmet is FILLING WITH WATER!
Kimbrough's unexpected suit troubleshooting and reboot, coupled with some other issues during the spacewalk, meant that the job [8]took longer than expected (controllers had estimated the tasks to take six and a half hours, but the astronauts went 45 minutes over time).
A subsequent spacewalk on Sunday 20 June will likely need a little replanning to complete this first installation as well as fitting the next iROSA.
[9]
NASA's ISS spacesuits are getting on a bit. The design goes back to the era of the now-retired Space Shuttle and keeping what is on orbit in tiptop shape can be a challenge. Sizing has also given the agency a headache in recent years after a planned all-women spacewalk [10]had to be postponed due to problems with fitting.
Other issues have included near disaster when [11]liquid appeared in the helmet of ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.
[12]
Still, yesterday's problem was resolved safely with a solution tried and tested by pretty much everybody in the IT world at one time or another. After all, in space, no one can see you Ctrl-Alt-Delete. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2021/06/16/spacewalk-activities-continue-after-shane-kimbrough-troubleshoots-spacesuit/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/16/iss_rosa/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YMvGAipUYOoqo-OQui9K2wAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/16/iss_rosa/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2019/03/26/nasa_all_women_spacewalk_cancelled/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/15/iss_zvezda_leaks/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2013/07/17/spacewalk_aborted_after_helmet_fills_with_water/
[8] https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2021/06/16/spacewalk-to-install-first-new-solar-array-concluded/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YMvGAipUYOoqo-OQui9K2wAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2019/03/26/nasa_all_women_spacewalk_cancelled/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2013/07/17/spacewalk_aborted_after_helmet_fills_with_water/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YMvGAipUYOoqo-OQui9K2wAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: There Are Six Things
"Hey, what does this thing do?"
"There are always a few parts left over, right?"
And the ever-popular "Oops" followed by a deafening silence.
Re: There Are Three Things
On a similar note -- I've read that space-suit-wearing SR-71 pilots quickly learned not to eat eggs or other farty foods before a mission.
Re: There Are Three Things
this reminds me of a Dr. Who episode - in space, O2 is expensive, after all! (in that episode the suits literally took over)
Along with a zillion other things I'm not an expert on, I have kicked around a design concept for a one-size-fits-all space suit, mostly for emergencies. In short, a vinyl bubble [made of thick material similar to a waterbed] with an integral helmet and radio, pockets for important things like an O2 bottle with a regulator on it, a couple of hose connections (for the O2 bottle etc.), and a bunch of oversized SHOE STRINGS that you'd use to obtain a proper fit.
For working it may not be tough enough, but if you put something _like_ this on, then put some stronger clothing over it (like pants and a jacket, only SPACE pants+jacket) and gloves, it might be pretty effective, fit ANYONE, be relatively easy to put on, and maybe even cheap enough to be DISPOSABLE.
And you could put these in boxes at various places inside the people compartment, for emergency use, in case of sudden decompression.
(you'd have to strap on the extra A/C when working outside but that could be more like a backpack thrown on after everything else, connect up hoses, etc.)
yeah - I think in terms of doing it "on the cheap" yet being extremely effective and reliable. But it would look like you were wearing a balloon tied with shoelaces.
Re: There Are Three Things
Prior art - Bibendum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Man
Re: There Are Three Things
I suppose you wouldn't mind looking like a big dick if it meant survival.
Could be worse: a blue screen....
Is it running Microsoft Spacesuit?
Maybe it needs to do an Online Update.
Asking for a friend.
Actually
The worst things are to hear is Sigourney weaver asking you to remain very still...
Or having to ask HAL to open the cargo bay doors.
Or Houston telling you to hang on because someone accidentally flipped on ludicrous speed.
Re: Actually
Oh, and the sound of Windows XP shutting down..
There Are Three Things
A spacewalker doesn't want to hear: "Can you turn it off and turn it on again?", "What's that hissing sound?" or the sound & sensation(s) of their stomach/bowels having a unexpected party & looking for the exit (Icon).