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July 9, 2008 11:20:58 AM CDT

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Space Station Computers Fail, Air Supply Threatened

Posted Jun 14, 07 7:03 AM CDT in Technology,  Science & Health    Editor's Choice

(Newser) – The Russian computers that control the international space station's air supply, water and orientation are down, the AP reports. The unprecedented failure could lengthen the current shuttle mission, or, at worst, force the crew to come home early, but there is no immediate danger. "We have plenty of resources, so we have plenty of time to sort this out," says a NASA manager.

The crew has a 56-day supply of oxygen left without help from the computers. Thrusters on the docked Atlantis are being used to help maintain the station's position. Russian engineers they think the problem may have something to do with the new solar panels delivered by the shuttle crew on Tuesday.

Source Associated Press

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I n this image made from NASA TV, Astronaut James Reilly, works during his space walk outside the international space station during a visit by the Space Shuttle Atlantis orbiting Earth, Monday, June...   (Associated Press)
In this image from NASA TV, mission specialist Steve Swanson is shown working on the retraction of the starboard solar array on the international space station, Wednesday, June 13, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA...   (Associated Press)
In this image made from NASA TV, a new set of solar panels is unfurled to 49 percent outside the international space station orbiting Earth, Tuesday, June 12, 2007. The second pair of solar wings was...   (Associated Press)
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