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(Image source: NASA)
BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE
A leak on the International Space Station had two astronauts take a quick planned spacewalk.
Live-streamed from space, this footage from NASA shows astronauts Chris Cassidy and Tom
Marshburn floating over the Indian Ocean. The two were tasked with fixing a leak to
the cooler of the ISS where the two solar panels connect. (Via NASA)
The leak comes from a pump that circulates ammonia coolant to one of eight solar panel
systems that provide electricity to the station. However, it wasn't life threatening.
If you look close enough, you can see the specks. The tiny white flakes tipped NASA
off to an ammonia leak on board Thursday. (Via Space.com)
A writer for Los Angeles Times says this area of the space station has been problematic
in the past. "That coolant loop has caused trouble for some time, and crew members attempted
to locate and repair a leak in November ... "
After more than six hours of working on the leak, the astronauts waited to see if the
new pump was working properly.
In the meantime, another astronaut inside the ISS tweeted, "Houston just sent the
command to start flowing ammonia through the newly-installed pump. Gloved fingers crossed."
Then another tweet 30 minutes later, "No leaks! We're bringing Tom & Chris back inside
... "