Tech Shout!

Two days ago, we had reported that the International Space Station was facing huge problems with regards to the computers in the Russian segment of the space shuttle. Now, Russian cosmonauts and engineers have managed to correct the problem that caused all computers aboard the ISS to crash and had even raised the possibility that the station might just have to be evacuated for safety purposes.

But now that two of the computers have been repaired, there’s no cause for worry. However, some of the faulty computer processors on the ISS will need to be replaced. These very computers control the International Space Station’s oxygen and water supplies.

The reason for the computer crashes is still not known. If they perform well overnight, then they could possibly resume providing critical functions today itself.

Even though when on Wednesday, the computers crashed, it was thought that the astronauts would have to abandon the station; NASA has now confirmed that such a measure will not be necessary. A Progress or Soyuz capsule, an unmanned vehicle that brings supplies to the station, is always kept there as an emergency escape capsule.

Also, two astronauts have managed to repair the torn section of the Space Shuttle Atlantis’ thermal shield.

Yesterday, astronaut John “Danny” Olivas used his hands, staples from a medical kit and pins to repair the thermal blanket that is situated on the back end of Atlantis. When Olivas completed his work, Jim Reilly, another astronaut changed a vent on the exterior of the ISS.