NASA Houston Power Outage Temporarily Disrupts ISS Communications; Agency Relies on Backup Control Systems

A brief power outage at NASA's Houston headquarters resulted in a communication disruption with the International Space Station (ISS). It was the first time since 2009 that the agency had to use backup control systems to reconnect with the astronauts onboard, who were orbiting hundreds of kilometers above the Earth's surface.

What's Wrong Houston? 90-Minute Power Outage in NASA Headquarters

On Tuesday, July 25, a 90-minute power outage occurred at NASA's headquarters in Houston, disrupting communication with the ISS. Science Alert reported that NASA utilized Russian communication systems during the power outage to stay in touch with astronauts Frank Rubio, Woody Hoburg, and Stephen Bowen on board the ISS.

Expedition 69, the crew on board the ISS, consists of Roscosmos cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin, Andrey Fedyaev, Commander Sergey Prokopyev, and UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi.

Joel Montalbano, the space station program manager at NASA, said during the press conference that the outage was caused by planned upgrades to the ground power system at the Johnson Space Center, though the loss of telemetry, voice communication, and command was unexpected.

However, NASA had prepared for such situations, and within 20 minutes of the outage, communication with the ISS was reestablished using the Russian systems. Additionally, a backup control center situated miles away was brought online shortly after.

Montalbano reassured the public that the incident posed no danger to the astronauts or the spacecraft, as the issue was solely a ground problem. The backup command and control system was implemented as part of preparations for weather emergencies, especially during hurricane seasons. The team successfully restored full command, telemetry, and voice communication with the ISS within the 90-minute window.

The power outage has been resolved, and NASA is planning to investigate to prevent similar incidents during the remaining operational years of the ISS, leading up to its scheduled deorbiting in 2031. With mission control back to full functionality, NASA aims to ensure the continued smooth operation of the ISS during its ongoing mission.

Inevitable End of ISS

According to Newsweek, the event occurred just under a month before SpaceX's upcoming Crew-7 mission, which intends to transport four astronauts to the ISS using a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The launch of the capsule, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket, is scheduled for August 17 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

As for the ISS, its operational period is approaching its conclusion. Despite NASA and its collaborators' desire for the ISS to continue operating beyond 2030, it is unfeasible. They intend to deorbit the space station by 2031, causing it to descend into the Pacific Ocean.

Like any long-term installation, such as the ISS, regular maintenance is crucial. However, as per The Planetary Society, the cost of maintenance increases over time similar to maintaining a car or an old house.

The ISS relies on repairable systems for power, communication, and life support, which can be serviced by astronauts or robotic operations in orbit. While ongoing maintenance and upgrades are common, the degradation of the station's structure will eventually limit its lifespan in orbit.

Spacecraft, including the ISS, face direct exposure to the harsh conditions of outer space, leading to potential damage. Additionally, the stress of docking and undocking maneuvers with other spacecraft contributes to wear and tear.