[UPDATE] Space Station Astronauts Evacuated to Russian Side After Ammonia Leak Alarm

[UPDATE] It really was a false alarm, and everyone is safe.

[Original Post] Once again proving that lots of people will blow a bunch of money on space thrillers while not enough people pay attention to the real one happening above our heads, the International Space Station woke up to some problems early this morning.

In 2013, an ammonia leak was the cause for emergency repair operations, so when an alarm went off at 4:00 EST this morning, the crew sprang into action. Mission Control’s data indicated a pressure increase in the water loop of one of the station’s climate control systems, and a subsequent reading of an increase in cabin pressure was a possible indication of another ammonia problem.

The Expedition 42 crew is now safe in the Russian modules of the ISS while the exact cause for the alarm is determined. Luckily, it looks like the blame for the alarm rests on a faulty sensor instead of an actual leak, but who could blame them for being cautious after having a similar problem so recently? NASA’s James Kelly said that it there’s no direct evidence of a leak and sensors or data relay problems are to blame, but the crew will remain in the Russian section until the cause can be positively determined.

(via io9, image via NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center)

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