Space Station Computers Partially Restored

Raver32 writes with the news that a partial restoration of computer control was established on the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday. Systems controlling critical elements like navigation and life-support failed on Wednesday. "Flight controllers were able to re-establish some communication with the computers overnight, with Russian engineers working Thursday to restore the rest of the system, NASA space station flight director Holly Ridings said. The U.S. space agency and Russian officials are still trying to determine the cause of a failure affecting multiple computers in the Russian network ... Since an earlier failure on Monday, thrusters on the space shuttle Atlantis have been fired periodically to help maintain the station's position. The Russian and U.S. space agencies said they could extend Atlantis's mission by one or two days to fix the problem. In the worst-case scenario, NASA said the ISS crew members -- two Russians and an American -- may be evacuated from the station."

There are times...

[AKAImBatman]

In the worst-case scenario, NASA said the ISS crew members -- two Russians and an American -- may be evacuated from the station.

...when having an overly spacious craft can come in handy. Should an evacuation be necessary, at least we know the Shuttle can carry them all.

Of course, if we launched enough smaller ships to where we had multiple birds in the air at any given time, space for evacuation wouldn't be a problem. Just catch the next transport.

Which reminds me, did NASA ever get around to installing the emergency escape craft? I know it was supposed to be a stripped-down capsule, but I don't remember if they just decided to keep something docked at all times instead.

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Re:OLD OLD news

[Jugalator]

Ouch... Even if I realize the ISS project itself has become a bit controversial with the funding and its goals (although its funding is nothing in comparison to so many other int'l projects I think the world could be without), this is sending some chills to me, if not only because of the economical catastrophy it would be for NASA, Russia, and the international space community with all that money down the drain if we would experience a worst case scenario here. Jeez, it's 2007 and the STS and ISS projects Were to be more or less finalized in 2010. It would be like being hit in the face on the finish line and I perhaps unlike any economical problem the space science community had experienced before. I really, really, hope they will get this sorted in the time that is running uncomfortably short. I may be emo, but as a space geek, my heart is with the NASA engineers at this point. :-(

Re:Over-voltage causes computer failure at ISS Rus

[EvilMagnus]

I suspect they had six machines on the same circuit (probably all in one of the Russian modules). One or more of those machines controlled the thrusters. They all got fried. The Russian control software probably works fine on any one of those six Russian computers ... all of which got fried. ;-)

They didn't all die because there's very few disasters on the ISS that would produce near-instantaneous calamity. This particular one means no thrusters, which isn't usually a problem ( gyros work for minor correction ) - it's only bad because if it's not fixed in time for the Shuttle's departure, the shuttle's undocking will disrupt the ISS's position beyond the gyros ability to compensate.

so if it falls from teh sky...

[corporatewhore]

...the last of the hopi indian prophecies will have come to pass...

            "And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease.

Re:OLD OLD news

[CodeBuster]

The second Atlantis leaves, should the thrusters from The Soyuz and The Progress not be sufficient to stabilize the ISS, it's a goner.

So, they either (a) fix the computers that control the gyros on the space station OR (b) everyone still up there boards either the Soyuz or Atlantis and everyone bails leaving the station to its fiery demise after it tumbles out of control OR (c) the Russians send a progress craft up there with more fuel (does the space shuttle support in flight refueling?) and consumables for the crews (the oxygen generator on the ISS is broken too they say). The space shuttle, as far as anyone without security clearance knows, has never been refueled in flight so it looks like the most likely option is everyone bails (option 'b') unless they can either fix the computers on the IIS (which may require getting new computers on a progress ala option 'c') which seems to be increasingly unlikely at this point. Perhaps Sir Isaac Newton will finally kill a project that Congress and several Presidents have been unable to. There are certainly some scientists that will not be sad to see the ISS go, given its deleterious effects on NASA's budget for other missions.

Re:There are times...

[MichaelSmith]

I'm not sure why you think that a lifting body capable of controlled supersonic flight is not as "fancy" as a lifting body capable of controlled subsonic flight.

The latter can soft land with wheels or skids. The former relies on parachutes.

just a bad switch!

[Anonymous Coward]

Things are lookng up. They jumpered around a power switch and the computers ran fine.

Maybe there is a design flaw. They ought to have independant power sources. Any decent server has at least two power supplies, that can connect to independant circuits.

Anyway there is a lesson for all you software guys. Bad power can kill any OS.

Also never trust any technology more complicated than a knife and fork. :)