NASA might evacuate the International Space Station if oxygen reserves drop lower than 45 days. Then 鈥渨e start getting ready to de-man鈥� the station, Bill Gerstenmaier, manager of NASA鈥檚 space-station programme, said on 24 September.
At the moment there is enough oxygen left to support the ISS鈥檚 two astronauts until Christmas Day, when the next Progress supply vehicle is due. But the situation could get desperate if the station鈥檚 broken oxygen generator can鈥檛 be repaired and Progress鈥檚 launch is delayed.
The crew believes the oxygen generator, the Russian-made Elektron that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, is not working because potassium hydroxide residue is clogging the hydrogen vent. Spare parts for the Elektron will be sent up on a Soyuz craft, due for launch on 11 October, along with a replacement crew. 鈥淲e have a fairly good chance of getting Elektron running,鈥� said Gerstenmaier.
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Assuming Progress arrives on time it will carry up to 100 kilograms of oxygen in tanks 鈥� about a 60-day supply. The space station also has Russian-made solid 鈥渃andles鈥� that release oxygen, and oxygen reserves for the station鈥檚 airlocks. All this adds up to a 160-day supply.