Before launching four more astronauts, SpaceX is solving some toilet problems in its Dragon capsule. The company and NASA want to ensure that any toilet leaks will not affect the capsule launched from the Kennedy Space Center earlier on Sunday or another capsule that has been parked on the International Space Station since April.
SpaceX vice president William Gerstenmaier, who worked for NASA, said that during SpaceX’s first private flight last month, a tube was degummed and urine spilled on the fan and under the floor. He told reporters on Monday night that the same problem was recently discovered in the Dragon spacecraft on the space station.
As a permanent repair, SpaceX welded the urine flushing tube in the company’s latest capsule, which was named Endurance by its U.S.-German crew. NASA has not yet completed its review of the last-minute repair. Raja Chari, NASA astronaut and spacecraft commander, said on Tuesday that he was “completely confident” in the repair work.
He pointed out that SpaceX took swift action on this issue, and hundreds of people are working hard to ensure the safety of the crew. Gerstenmaier said that as for the Dragon capsule in orbit, less urine accumulates under the floor than the capsule that carried a billionaire and three other people during the three-day flight. That’s because the crew led by NASA only lived in the space station for one day before reaching the space station.
News Source : The Indian Express
