4
$\begingroup$

Other than from decompression and fire, what other ways has NASA or the Russian space program identified unique ways someone on the ISS could die suddenly, in particular from human error with the technology of the station.

I understand micrometeors and debris from artificial satellites are always a threat, but those wouldn't be caused by an error on the station.

Addendum-A heart attack; choking with piece of food; losing too much blood from a cut of a major artery, are not unique to errors with the technology of the station.

$\endgroup$
17
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ You're looking for a PRA (probabilitistic risk assessment) skinnied down to human error causes. I've seen PRAs for shuttle but not ISS. Doesn't mean they don't exist, of course. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 26, 2019 at 1:31
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ A heart attack; choking with piece of food; losing too much blood from a cut of a major artery, etc. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 26, 2019 at 1:53
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ There are some particularly high voltages in the power production system (solar panels, batteries) on the ISS. There are likely ways to be electrocuted if a power component is damaged or mishandled. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 26, 2019 at 2:59
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned during a space walk... $\endgroup$
    – Paul
    Commented Dec 26, 2019 at 4:30
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Two circumstances I can think of: crashing a spacecraft into the station by botched rendez-vous (like it happened with Mir, dumb luck nothing critical was damaged), and a space-suit failure during EVA (due to an error in handling or inspection failure). Drowing in the coolant water due to a leak in the cooling layer is a serious risk and something that almost happened (the leak wasn't so severe as to obstruct the astronaut's mouth and nose) $\endgroup$
    – SF.
    Commented Dec 26, 2019 at 10:42

0

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.