NASA is reportedly in talks with SpaceX for help regarding the stranded crew members of the Soyuz Ms-22 Spacecraft.
(Photo : GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images)
After a Russian spacecraft developed a coolant leak while docked to the orbital lab, NASA is investigating whether SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft might be able to provide an alternative means of transportation home for some crew members of the International Space Station.
The Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, which is scheduled to return its crew of two cosmonauts and one American astronaut to Earth early next year, has a punctured coolant line on an external radiator.
As of the latest update, NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, are looking into the origin of the problem and finding a way home for the stranded astronauts.
NASA in Talks With SpaceX for Rescue Mission
According to Reuters, NASA is considering alternatives in the event that Russia is unable to launch another Soyuz spacecraft or decides that doing so would be too risky. Using SpaceX's Crew Dragon as a fallback option for the crew of the damaged Soyuz is one option that is now being considered.
"We have asked SpaceX a few questions on their capability to return additional crew members on Dragon if necessary, but that is not our prime focus at this time," NASA spokeswoman Sandra Jones said.
Whether SpaceX could launch a backup Crew Dragon spacecraft to pick up the crew or add more seats to the current Dragon, which is named Endeavour, parked at the space station are just a few of the ideas that NASA did not specifically address.
As of writing, Teslarati reports that it is not yet known what specific help NASA has asked of Crew Dragon, but the fact remains that NASA is considering using SpaceX as a potential backup alternative for the Soyuz crew.
Possible concerns are if SpaceX can increase the crew capacity of the Dragon that is currently docked with the International Space Station or whether launching an empty capsule for a rescue mission would be a wiser option.
Read Also: Astrolab's New Space Rover More Advanced Than NASA Moon Buggy? Here's What FLEX Vehicle Can Do
NASA's Soyuz Ms-22 Spacecraft Leak
According to Space, a critical fluid that controls the temperature of the crew compartment of the Soyuz spacecraft escaped during an incident on Dec. 14. The three-person team is currently aboard the MS-22 vehicle, and engineers in Moscow are considering whether to launch another Soyuz capsule to bring them back.
Although the origin of the leak aboard Soyuz MS-22 has not yet been identified, space debris or a micrometeoroid that was too small to be tracked could be to blame. A hole was discovered in the Soyuz radiator exterior during follow-up examinations.
The ISS crew is not in immediate danger as a result of the scenario, but if the station had to be evacuated for any reason, it is likely that the three crew members would not have any secure way to return to Earth.
The MS-22 crew, which included Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin as well as NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, all entered space wearing Russian Sokol spacesuits.
Related Article: NASA Jupiter Moon Image Hints Europa as Habitable, Says Experts; Here's What They See
