What if the astronauts are separated from the International Space Station?

Being separated from the International Space Station in extravehicular activities (spacewalk) is a small probability event. That doesn't mean it won't happen. Every astronaut should be prepared.

Every spacewalk, the step before leaving the airlock cabin of the space station, is the first and most important step. With the doors closed and locked, astronauts should ensure that their safety ropes (braided steel cables with 85-foot retractable reels) are firmly fixed on their spacesuits. In addition, in the "corridor" of the space station, two walking astronauts tied their safety ropes together, which we called "daisy chain". Now, two astronauts are connected to each other, and one of them is firmly fixed in the space station.

When the hatch is opened, another key step begins. The chief astronaut (EV 1) first turns on the air brake and ties the other end (free end) of the safety rope to the outer anchor point. Now, two astronauts still tied by daisy chains are fixed inside and outside respectively. At this time, EV 1 astronauts should untie the daisy chain and tie the safety rope of EV2 to the external anchor point. Now, they are all fixed outside. At this point, EV 1 should untie the "daisy chain" and then tie the safety rope of partner EV2 to the external anchor point. At this time, two astronauts were safely fixed outside the cabin.

On July 23rd, 2007, I left the airlock of the International Space Station and started my first space trip.

It's time for the EV2 astronaut inside to untie his/her anchor point and get out of the cabin. Look! Two astronauts are safely fixed outside the International Space Station, ready to start work.

If our brave astronauts didn't follow the "tether law" in the whole spacewalk, then all these efforts may still be insufficient. When they leave the airlock-still fixed at the anchor point-everyone must try to keep the 85-foot line on their bodies apart and not knot. This task seems simple, but it is difficult to walk in microgravity for 6.5 hours. In addition, if the working place is more than 85 feet away from the initial point, they must bring extra safety ropes by themselves, and carry out "tether exchange" safely and appropriately when necessary.

But I still haven't answered your question, have I? If all our "tether rules" fail (remember, this is a small probability event), we should be prepared that one of us will be completely separated from the International Space Station, although it will be a bit embarrassing.

Of course, it is impossible to return to the original road and fall to the earth as your question said. Most likely, the astronauts who lost physical contact with the space station fell at high speed, and the result was floating in the air, farther and farther away from their "home". It would be bad if they entered outer space. It is futile to choose another spacecraft for rescue, because it takes a long time to separate and reassemble the spacecraft to capture the astronauts floating at will. Another option appears.

Solution? It's amazing. Like barker rogers, our spacesuits are equipped with jet packs. Unlike Mr. Rogers, we can train for this situation through virtual reality (VR).

Attend the VR lab meeting with Rick Mastracchio to prepare for STS- 13 1.

The place where astronauts train is called VR lab-is it special? It is the real genius home behind the DOUG (Dynamic Space General Graphics) software system. We simulated training in the virtual world and used our last resort-simple EVA safety backpack.

These pictures are all from NASA's Virtual Reality Laboratory at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas.

Wear special gloves and helmets to create a virtual world that can simulate falling from the space station. Repetition is the key to safe return. Because a safer backpack is our last resort, we must be prepared to use its manual controller (HC) correctly to "fly" us back to the space station. Flying is a universal belonging. In essence, we must learn to use and understand the nuances of orbital mechanics in order to return to the spacecraft of the space station through the extravehicular spacesuit. Experience is the mother of wisdom. We know the virtual international space station, and we can experience the space environment like a video game through a manual controller with a software executive program. With the improvement of our ability to return safely, we will leave the International Space Station faster and faster until we can prove that we can save ourselves anyway.

Being an astronaut is fun!

Author: quora

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