NASA wants spacesuit repair kit on Russian launch

[July 23, 2013]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA is rushing to get spacesuit repair tools on a launch to the International Space Station this weekend.

Last week, an Italian astronaut almost drowned in his flooded helmet while performing a spacewalk.

NASA is still uncertain why water leaked into the helmet worn by Luca Parmitano last Tuesday. But if spare parts are on board, then these repair tools will be useful in swapping out the bad pieces.

The Russian supply ship is set to blast off Saturday from Kazakhstan

The spacesuit trouble is thought to be somewhere in the cooling system. The tools could be used on a variety of parts, including a water relief valve that is part of the cooling system.

Parmitano, meanwhile, is doing fine.

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NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/
station/main/index.html

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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