Astronaut Nearly Drowning In Space Could Have Been Prevented

February 27, 2014

Image Caption: European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, Expedition 36 flight engineer, attired in an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit, participates in a session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as work continues on the International Space Station. A little more than one hour into the spacewalk, Parmitano reported water floating behind his head inside his helmet. The water was not an immediate health hazard for Parmitano, but Mission Control decided to end the spacewalk early. Credit: NASA

Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Last year, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned in space due to a leaky helmet, and yesterday NASA said this isnt the first time this suit model has misbehaved.

On July 16, 2013 two International Space Station crew members exited the US Airlock to begin a spacewalk. About 44 minutes into the spacewalk Parmitano reported water inside his helmet on the back of his head. Slowly the water began to fill up his helmet, and he was just moments away from actually drowning inside his own helmet while in space.

After this incident took place, NASA launched an investigation to help identify factors that may have contributed to the incident and it recommended changes that could be implemented to prevent it from happening again.

The investigation found that the same suit failure occurred a week earlier, and if this event was properly investigated it could have prevented Luca from being placed at risk the following week.

In summary, the causes for this mishap evolved from inorganic materials causing blockage of the drum holes in the EMU water separator resulting in water spilling into the vent loop; the NASA teams lack of knowledge regarding this particular failure mode; and misdiagnosis of this suit failure when it initially occurred on EVA 22, NASA said in its report.

The space agency said the inorganic materials blocking the water separator drum holes had not been seen during a spacewalk before and is still undergoing investigation. It said the investigation does not have the required data yet to determine the root causes of the contamination source.

Essentially, when the helmet first messed up the team misdiagnosed the problem, allowing Luca to be put in a position where he used the helmet. NASA said that had the issue been discussed in more detail at the end of the spacewalk, the team would have likely realized that the water experienced in the helmet needed to be investigated further before pressing ahead.

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Astronaut Nearly Drowning In Space Could Have Been Prevented