A photo from open sources
Russian spacecraft manufacturer Soyuz Energy Rocket and Space Corporation, in the ship of which in 2018 a drilled hole was discovered in the year, patented method gluing such holes with a napkin and glue, patent and its description published by the Federal Service for Intellectual property.
“The task of the invention was the development Method for sealing a defect in the form of a hole in the shell manned spacecraft with a characteristic size of up to ten millimeters in space flight at expiration through it air into the surrounding outer space “, – stated in the explanation of the patent.
It states that the patented method is suitable for sealing holes from micrometeorites, space debris and holes punched by the astronauts, that is, made “due to erroneous actions of the crew during repair work on the shell of a manned spacecraft. ”
For the manufacture of “plugs” it is proposed to use fabric a cloth soaked in sealant. Plugging her hole, the authors patent offer to push it further, while injecting sealant. Then it is proposed to check the quality of the seal. ultrasonic leak detector. And if necessary, apply on top a few more layers of glue.
This is the method that was tested by astronauts two years ago to eliminate holes in the household compartment of the spacecraft “Union MS-09.” Then the astronauts pushed into the unknown a two-millimeter hole in the fabric impregnated special adhesive composition “Germetall”. Who made the hole, still not yet known.
In December 2018, the astronauts made an exit to the open space, during which they opened the skin of the “Union” and took strokes and samples from the surface of the household compartment of the ship. They were returned to Earth for analysis by experts and investigators. Last September CEO of Roskosmos Dmitry Rogozin said the reason the appearance of the hole is understandable, but not disclosing it to the public planned. Then the press service of the state corporation clarified that the reason investigative authorities will announce.
A source
Russia
