International Space Station loses communications with ground - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

International Space Station loses communications with ground

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By WAFF.com Staff - email
The International Space Station lost communication with the ground Tuesday morning. The International Space Station lost communication with the ground Tuesday morning.
HOUSTON, TX -

The International Space Station lost communication with the ground at 8:45 a.m. CT Tuesday.

At that time, flight controllers in Houston were updating the software onboard the station's flight computers when one of the station's data relay systems malfunctioned, according to NASA.

"The primary computer that controls critical station functions defaulted to a backup computer, but was not allowing the station to communicate with NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites," they said in a statement.

NASA says Mission Control Houston was able to communicate with the crew as the space station flew over Russian ground stations before 10:00 a.m. CT and instructed the crew to connect a backup computer to begin the process of restoring communications.

Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford reported that the station's status was fine and that the crew was doing well.

Communications were restored by 11:34 a.m. CT

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