NASA engineers are troubleshooting a power glitch on the International Space Station that might affect plans for a SpaceX Dragon capsule's cargo delivery mission this week.
The power issue isn't a concern for the six astronauts currently living and working onboard the space station, according to a NASA statement released yesterday (April 29). But it has affected the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which worries NASA when the agency looks ahead to the scheduled SpaceX Dragon launch tomorrow (May 1).
NASA spokesperson Dan Huot told Space.com the power issue has affected one of two power systems on the station's robotic arm, leaving it without a backup. The Canadarm2 robot arm is vital to SpaceX's Dragon mission, since astronauts will use the appendage to capture Dragon when it arrives at the orbiting lab.
Related: How SpaceX's Dragon Space Capsule Works (Infographic)
A pair of astronauts worked on the robotic arm's power supply during a spacewalk conducted earlier this month, but that work focused on jumper cables along the arm's length. The current problem, instead, is with the station equivalent of a circuit-breaker, basically.
"An issue is being worked with a Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) that distributes electrical power to two of the eight power channels on the station," NASA officials said in the statement released yesterday. "Flight controllers have been working to route power through the remaining six power channels."
The launch currently scheduled for early tomorrow morning has already been hit by two delays, which pushed the launch first from April 26 to April 30 on account of "station and orbital mechanics constraints," then to May 1. The rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
When it does launch, the capsule will set off on a leisurely three-day journey to the space station, where astronauts will unpack the more than 5,550 lbs. (2,495 kilograms) of supplies it carried. That includes fresh supplies and new science experiments.
Space.com managing editor Tariq Malik contributed to this report.
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-nasa-station-power-glitch.html
2019-04-30 13:48:00Z
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