The Astronaut Who Almost Drowned In Space

Image: ESA

19 March 2024

Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned during a spacewalk in 2013


Image: ESA

Wondering how? Well, there was a water leak in his helmet which nearly cost him his life


Image: ESA


On July 16, 2013, Parmitano stepped outside the International Space Station (ISS) to perform what should have been a 6.5 hour spacewalk


Image: ESA

45 minutes into the spacewalk, Parmitano encountered a sudden and unexpected problem. Water began to accumulate inside his helmet


Image: NASA

Mr Parmitano told Mission Control about the water but he didn't think it was a problem and Mission Control assumed that the water was coming from a leak in his In-Suit Drink Bag


Image: Instagram/astro_luca

24 minutes later Mr Parmitano reported that the amount of water had increased and moved his face and into his eyes, nose, and mouth


Image: Instagram/astro_luca


Mr Parmitano couldn't see, couldn't communicate. He relied on memory and feel his way back to find it


Image: Pexels

Mr Parmitano somehow managed to find the airlock where Mr Cassidy joined him


Image: Instagram/astro_luca

After they reached the airlock, it was repressurised back up to the ISS ambient pressure


Image: Instagram/astro_luca

The inner lock was opened and crew member Karen Nyberg removed Mr Parmitano's helmet, releasing a burst of water droplets


Image: Instagram/astro_luca

He estimated that they wiped about 1/3 gallon of water from his head and helmet


Image: ESA

After investigation, it was found determined that the mishap evolved from small bits of aluminum silicate plugging holes in the water separator


Image: NASA

Check More Stories

Image: Reuters 

Image: Unsplash

Image: NASA

 ndtv.com