Scary Helmet Leak during July 2013 Spacewalk Could Have Been Prevented, NASA [VIDEO]

First Posted: Feb 27, 2014 08:07 AM EST
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NASA could have prevented one of its scariest events that occurred during last July's space walk, when the Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano's found his helmet flooded with water, according to a latest report.

The mishap occurred July 16, 2013 during the planned six hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station. The spacewalk was aborted within an hour after Parmitano complained of water being accumulated inside the helmet, which was making it hard for him to hear as well as see. Within 45 minutes the crew safely entered the ISS. If they hadn't returned on time, the astronaut could have drowned in his space suit.

Initially it was believed that water actually came from his drinking bag, Parmitano was quick enough to empty his water bag. But still couldn't stop water from accumulating inside his helmet. On his return inside the ISS, the crew members aboard immediately investigated the helmet leak. They believed that the problem occurred due to the cooling system of the spacesuit.

But the space agency's latest report claims that leak was misdiagnosed. The space station team failed to identify the problem that had occurred during the earlier spacewalk.

 Chris Hansen, NASA's chief engineer for the space station and head of the agency's Mishap Investigation Board confirmed the news. He said that Parmitano had actually encountered a similar but less serious problem with the suit during a previous spacewalk, source NBC News.

"The event was not properly investigated, which could have prevented putting a crew member at risk a week later," Hansen told reporters in a teleconference, the Associated Press reported.

Even after nine months of investigation, the space agency had no definite answer to how nearly 1.5 litres of water landed inside the astronauts helmet. Though it is clear that it was the contamination that blocked the fan pump. source abc News.

 "The message to all of us is to be really vigilant and to really communicate," NASA spaceflight Chief William Gerstenmaier was quoted in Reuters. "We're not hiding this stuff. We're actually out trying to describe these things, describe where we can get better. I think that's how we prevent Columbias and Challengers."

Nearly 49 recommendations were issued by the investigation board that address concerns regarding the fatal water leak. Most of the suggestions have already been incorporated by the space agency.

               

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