Chewing gum helps astronauts
Today’s status report on the International Space Station on SpaceRef.com provided updates on Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko inspection of the SM RO (Service Module Working Components, to us non-ISS space junkies). Important stuff to do, naturally, but even more important to AndrewsGumWorld (or, for this one moment, AndrewsGumUniverse) because one of the technical devices used to measure cavities on the hull surface is one we’re rather familiar with, our somewhat solitary obsession: chewing gum.
Here are some of the specific details from today’s update:
Kononenko conducted the periodic/long-term inspection of the SM RO (Service Module Working Compartment)’s pressure hull and ring, looking for any moisture, deposits, mold, corrosion and pitting behind panels 130, 134, 135, 138, 139, 454, also underneath the TVIS treadmill (where deposit was discovered earlier) and the cold plates (where SNT and STR lines are installed). Last time done: 6/3. [The inspection of the hull surface, which is coated with a primer and dark-green enamel, is done using cleaning napkins to wipe the area in question if required and reporting results to the ground. The hull inspection looks for changed color and cavities; if cavities are found, they are to be measured for depth (with chewing gum) after cleaning. Digital photographs of the shell before and after the removal of deposits were to be made for documentation.]
Image above is from NASA’s Human Space Flight Gallery.