SpaceX has toilet problems in its capsules, just before it launches more astronauts to space.
Both the company and Nasa want the capsule to launch early Sunday morning from Kennedy Space Center or another that has been parked at International Space Station since April.
William Gerstenmaier (a SpaceX vice president who worked for Nasa) said that a tube broke during SpaceX's private flight last month and spilled urine onto fans and under the floor.
Gerstenmaier stated that we have solved the problem by making the tank an all-welded structure. This means there is no joint that can become unglued or disconnected. The last-minute solution is being reviewed by Nasa.
SpaceX is still a long way off, so we at the commercial crew program need to get some work done, stated Steve Stich, Nasas' commercial crew program manager, in a Monday night press conference.
Gerstenmaier said that the Dragon capsule is currently in orbit has less urine than the one that was carrying a billionaire and three others. This is because the Nasa-led crew spent only a day in the capsule before reaching the space station.
Gersteinmaier stated that SpaceX has been conducting tests to make sure the liquid didn't cause damage to the capsule. Any structural damage could put astronauts at risk on their return to Earth next month. He said that the final tests will be completed by this week.
During Friday's review, engineers will present new data to the management on the capsules toilet and other aspects of mission.
We were looking for tiny clues, tiny imperfections or subtle changes in plots. Someone might ask: Why did this temperature change or why did it go up? You can just dig into these things to find the answers, then improve and fly safely.
Sunday's launch will be SpaceX's fourth launch of Nasa astronauts, and its fifth overall passenger flight. After the 2011 retirement of the shuttle fleet, Nasa turned to SpaceX to transport astronauts to the space station.
Before SpaceX's last year takeover, US astronauts rode on Russian rockets.
SpaceX's Starship, a Mars-based ship prototype, exploded at touchdown in March. It was then tossed into the air again before plummeting to the ground in flames.
The rocket's fireball explosion left chunks of debris in the Boca Chica tract, a national wildlife refuge that includes beaches, dunes, and tidal flats.
