NASA considers using Crew Dragon to transport ISS astronauts through Soyuz leak

NASA is investigating whether the Crew Dragon capsule from space company SpaceX can be used as transport to Earth from the ISS. It should be an alternative to the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, in which a leak was discovered earlier this month.

NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are still investigating the cause of the coolant pipe leak on the Soyuz MS-22, which was discovered in mid-December. The spacecraft was supposed to return three astronauts, two Russians and an American, to Earth early next year.

“We have asked SpaceX a few questions about their ability to return additional Dragon capsule crew members if necessary, but that is not our focus at this time,” NASA spokeswoman Sandra Jones said in a statement. a statement to Reuters. It is unclear what exactly NASA asked SpaceX about the capsule’s capabilities. SpaceX has not yet responded to Reuters’ questions.

Ultimately, the best way to return the crew members depends on the outcome of the investigation. The leak could be a puncture caused by a meteoroid, but it could also be caused by the impact of a piece of space debris. A hardware failure on the Soyuz spacecraft is also being considered. In January, NASA and Roscosmos will decide how they will transport the astronauts and when, writes Space.com.