NASA announced that the failure of the backup computer support on the International Space Station will not affect the Space X scheduled for today (April 14). In fact, the spare parts needed to change a failed computer were urgently delivered to the rocket Space X Falcon 9 before launch, scheduled for 16:58 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The breakdown became known on Friday, during a scheduled test of the capacity of the computer systems of the space station. A malfunction of the multiplexer / demultiplexer (MDM) relay unit of the backup computer system located in the main part of the station has been identified. The main MDM operates according to the project, 6 crew members are out of danger. Duplicate MDMs are designed to control the external cooling system of the station. Replacing the backup MDM will require a spacewalk. “Preparations are being made in case of emergency by two astronauts of Expedition 39, who are ready to replace the damaged MDM relay block no earlier than April 22,” reports NASA. The cushioning material needed for the replacement will be delivered to Space X by the Dragon capsule.
Today's launch of Space X is the third retrofit mission (Space X - 3) assigned to a private company that supplies over 2 tons of stocks. Along with the second privately held launch company, Orbital Sciences Corp. - Space X is part of NASA's efforts to attract private structures to deliver cargo, experimental equipment and (ultimately) astronauts to orbit.
