NASA Managers Brief Media on Spacewalk Leak

During a news conference carried live on NASA Television, NASA managers at Johnson Space Center discussed the water leak that occurred inside the helmet of European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano during the July 16 spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

Parmitano and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy were more than an hour into the spacewalk when Parmitano reported a buildup of water inside his helmet. Flight Director David Korth ended the spacewalk early at the 1-hour, 32-minute mark into the planned 6 1/2 hour excursion.

[BlackEpyon]

We should get more scientists as politicians. Then maybe we'll know what they're talking about.

[spacetoxicology]

to understand a source of leakage, the water should be coloured. For instance, green from personal water tank and blue from coolant loops

[TheSzierra]

Tiny edit: Yeah, after having watched the video for about 15 minutes it seems like they are pretty sure about it NOT being the waterbag, so there's a bigger possibility it's the cooling system (that circulates water throughout the suit and keeps the astronaut at the right temprature).

[TheSzierra]

Some kind of leak, source unknown, they said it might've been the waterbag (but Luca disagreed because he felt it was too much water).
He didn't feel it increasing at first, but when it started to move around and cover his eyes he changed his opinion.
By the end when they were inside the hatch, waiting to pressurize the chamber, Luca had so much water in his helmet he could neither hear nor respond when Cassidy tried to communicate with him.
The video is up on this channel, you can check it out.

[geomodelrailroader]

drink bag could be a possibility or the most likely cause could have been a torn water line in Luca's cooling suit

[RufftaMan]

From what i understood, Mrs. Eversley said in this briefing there are 2 suits, 2 complete backups plus spare parts.
I don't know if by backups she meant the Russian Orlan suits, but if not, then there seem to be at least 6 suits on board.

[NicolajTopp]

how would you absorb it? pumps don't really work. the water just stays where it is due to zero gravity

[geomodelrailroader]

it later was found out to be a cooling water leek most likely the water connector was disconnected or Luca tore his surgical tubing if both are disconnected water will leak into the suit another cause could be the neck water bladder which brings up water from the backpack to Luca's neck to keep his head cold when he is in the sun. Luca reported water on the back of his head only thing that rules that out is the neck water bladder if this is busted it needs to be replaced.

[SabbGamer]

What happened to Luca Parmitano? Why did he have water in his helmet during spacewalk?

[trespire]

EVA's sure aren't a walk in the park.
Good job guys, safety first.

[moondingo]

I noted in Luca's blog that he was fitting into a smaller than regular space suit, could that extra 'pressure' of a tight fit that could have caused the problem..?

[hpekristiansen]

Would it have been possible to for Luca to drink the water to prevent drowning?

[chena]

you would think that there would be
a a water absorption system in those suits....

[JohnBrown]

So are all future walks now on hold till this is worked through ?

[HhydrogenPower]

Is space, yes it is full of water. That's how we get ours. Until you understand. Think about adsorption and the vacuum bubble we live in. Looking at it backwards is extreamly hard to do.

[karebu]

Maybe develop ingestible anti-fog and coolant. Next time they can gulp the water down in an emergency.

[Etorofu]

Thanks for that statements, I really apprechiate your work!
With best regards from germany.

[velik]

First - congratulations to all for profesionalism and good ending.

2 NASA public affairs: Please consider using "normal" metric units in public communications, so that most of the world can understand, what are you talking about. Especially now, that a member of ESA is on the ISS!
Thanx

[user]

The government should be driven by scientists.

[HhydrogenPower]

And if I am wrong then those Italians can't hold there liquor. LOL. I am sure there are not that many people that could be perfectly fine floating in space.