The probable cause of the failure on the ISS called the human factor – Vedomosti

While testing radio rendezvous and docking with the ISS “Course” to start the engine abnormally docked to the station “Soyuz TMA-15M”, said the evening June 9 Roskosmos. This has resulted in “a slight change in the position of the ISS,” cites “Interfax”. The incident occurred with the ship, which is two days later must return to Earth of three astronauts, said the source agency. Total two docked to the station, “Union.” An emergency situation with the ship did not change pre-defined date of return of three astronauts from orbit, said “RIA Novosti” a source in the space industry.

Tass source in the space industry has suggested that this could be due to an error in the program. Source of “Interfax” in the aerospace industry put forward the theory that the Earth was filed with the wrong team. Source “RIA Novosti” expressed the third version – the engines could start because of a failure in the system “course.” The situation at the NASA ISS is considered normal, any danger for the station was not seen, according to Tass. The representative of the Johnson Space Center in Houston Hampfris Kelly said that NASA officials are in communication with their Russian counterparts.

Federal Space Agency officially announced that testing of “Course” was planned. Engines “Union” Nonstandard Run in 18.32 MSK. “The necessary measures to stabilize the ISS. Threats ISS crew, the station and staff return” Soyuz TMA-15M “to the Earth is not – said in a press release agency. – Roscosmos specialists determine the causes of the incident, about the results to be announced.”

Source of “Interfax” suggested that the operator of Earth “was to command the testing equipment” course “and the system of decoupling, but instead, apparently, went commanded on the engines” Union. “It turns out, according to him, the ship responded normally, albeit on the wrong team, and” no problem with his “board” no. “” was tested “course”, as will undocking – June 11 the ship will return to Earth three cosmonauts – said the source TASS. – Who is the main version of the incident – a bug in the program instructions which entered the operators in the world, in the MCC, prior to testing. “He said that nonstandard including several orientation engines of the ship.

” Engines docked to Station manned spacecraft, unscheduled run on a few seconds. This can happen for several reasons: the failure of the radio test rendezvous and docking, “course”, defects in software, as well as ground-based bug experts “- said a source in the space industry of the agency” RIA Novosti “.

Now watch the ISS are Russians Anton Shkaplerov, Gennady Padalka, Mikhail Kornienko, European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Kristoforetti and NASA astronauts Terry Verts and Scott Kelly. It was planned that on June 11 will return to Earth Shkaplerov, Kristoforetti and Vertsa. Initially, they planned to return May 14, but it was postponed for a month due to an accident cargo spacecraft “Progress M-27M”.