ELEKTRON (ISS)

'Elektron' is a Russian oxygen generator used on board the International Space Station (ISS). The Elektron uses electrolysis to produce oxygen. This process splits water molecules reclaimed from other uses on board the station into oxygen and hydrogen via electrolysis. The oxygen is vented into the cabin and the hydrogen is vented into space. The three Elektron oxygen generators on board the International Space Station have been plagued with problems, sometimes forcing the crew to use backup sources of bottled oxygen and Solid Fuel Oxygen Generation (SFOG) canisters. Each canister can supply the oxygen needs of one crewmember for one day. NASA delivered a similar American-built system with Discovery flight STS-121, to supplement the Russian Elektron oxygen system and eventually support a crew of six. It is to become operational in 2007.

Contents

Elektron failures

References

See also

External links

Elektron failures

★ September 8, 2004: The Elektron unit shuts down mysteriously. Two weeks of troubleshooting result in the unit starting up again, and then immediately shutting down. The cause is eventually traced to gas bubbles in the unit, which remains non-functional until a Progress resupply mission in October. ^[1]

★ January 1, 2005: ISS personnel tap into the oxygen supply of the recently-arrived Progress resupply ship when the Elektron unit fails. ^[2]

★ September 18, 2006: Fumes from a malfunctioning Elektron unit prompt NASA flight engineers to declare a "spacecraft emergency". A burning smell led the ISS crew to suspect another Elektron fire, but the unit is only "very hot". A leak of corrosive, odorless potassium hydroxide forces the ISS crew to don gloves and face masks. The smell is conjectured to have come from overheated rubber seals. The incident occurs shortly after Space Shuttle Atlantis leaves, and just before a resupply mission (including space tourist Anousheh Ansari) arrives.^[3] The Elektron did not come back on line until November 2006, after new valves and cables arrived on the October 2006 Progress resupply vessel. ^[4]

References

1. http://www.wired.com/news/space/0,2697,65026,00.html Wired News: Space O2 Generator Fails Again, Sep, 20, 2004
2. http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/exp10_elektron_050104.html Space.com: Repaired Oxygen Generator Fails Again Aboard ISS, 4 January 2005
3. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp13/060918elektron.html Spaceflight Now: Oxygen generator problem triggers station alarm, September 18, 2006
4. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/nov/HQ_SS06048_station_status.html International Space Station Status Report #48, November 3, 2006

See also

★ Life support system

External links

★ JamesOberg.com detailed info on Elektron

★ SM Life Support Book (PDF) at SpaceRef.com ISS docs