NASA engineering and flight control teams are continuing to review data and video related to a leak of coolant from the backup radiator of the space station's Science Multipurpose Module (MLM). Two U.S. module spacewalks originally scheduled for Thursday, October 12 and Friday, October 20 have been postponed until the review is completed. New dates will be announced later.
On November 8, 2021, SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavor took photos of the International Space Station while flying around the orbiting laboratory after undocking from the space-facing port of the Harmony module. The orbital complex was flying 263 miles above the Marshall Islands in the Pacific when this photo was taken. Image source: NASA
As reported by Roscosmos flight controllers, the leak has now stopped, as evidenced by footage captured by NASA's external space station camera, showing only residual droplets of coolant.
The main radiator of the "Science" continues to work normally, providing sufficient cooling for the cabin without affecting the crew or the operation of the space station.
The spare radiator was transported to the space station from the Lasvette capsule during the STS-132 space shuttle mission in 2010. It was transferred to Nauka during a Roscosmos spacewalk in April. Ground teams are continuing to investigate the cause of the leak and will provide more updates as soon as possible.
The picture shows the Russian Space Agency's Progress 84 cargo spacecraft docking with the Poisk module of the International Space Station. Image source: NASA
Andreas Mogensen, commander of the 70th Expedition from the European Space Agency (ESA), assists NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli in trying on a spacesuit and testing spacesuit components on the "Exploration" airlock of the International Space Station in preparation for the upcoming spacewalk. Image source: NASA