ISS spacewalk postponed over mystery astronaut malady

NASA has postponed today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) due to an undisclosed "medical concern" with a crew member. The US space agency has shared few details, other than the fact that the issue arose yesterday and resulted in today's spacewalk being delayed. The single crew member involved is in …

[Doctor Syntax]

"Williams and Yui later worked on physics and microbiology research."

Maybe microbiology isn't a good idea in such an isolated environment.

[Thomas Steven 1]

Maybe microbiology is only a good idea in such an isolated environment. Rage virus anyone?

[Doctor Syntax]

Microbiology labs have extraction facilities. The containment of the ISS means that there is no fresh supply to replace the extracted air. Unless the filtering is perfect the recycling of that air will allow possible contamination to build up. The isolation prevents access to treatment. And I don't think the chromic acid we used to use for cleaning glassware would be popular on the ISS.

Lack of imagination virus anyone?

[BartyFartsLast]

On the contrary, that sort of isolated environment is the perfect place for it.

[Eclectic Man]

Indeed. See the 'documentary' The Andromeda Strain:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain_(film)

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Flat Share

Never share a living enviroment with a micro-biologist, they are beyond anal when it comes to things being clean.

Post-it notes left at eye height when having a deep contemplative sit saying "Now Wash Your Hands", one morning Alex dragged me into the bathroom to show me the hairs left by the african-american drama student after she had showered without rinsing the tub after she had finished & left for class.

I could only think of one response to this "showing".

"Well Alex, I think we can safely say she's not a natural blonde".

[Doctor Syntax]

Re: Flat Share

Early exercise in the Microbiology course: take the towel from over the lab sink, press it lightly onto a nutrient agar plate and incubate overnight.

[Eclectic Man]

Re: Flat Share

When studying for 'O'-level biology* the teacher had one Petrie dish prepared with agar for each member of the class. We had to decide on what to put on it and it would then be incubated for a week. We all picked something different. I chose breath, I and a couple of other students just breathed out onto the gel. After a week there was a 'healthy' growth of bacteria. Not as much as some others, but enough to ensure that I would never, for example blow into a camera to remove dust from the sensor.

These microbe thingies are everywhere .

*Yes, I really am that old. I got a 'B' and decided to study maths.

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't wait for Giorgio's "interpretation" of this! Maybe it was aliens all along?

[Furious Reg reader John]

Morning Sickness?

[I am David Jones]

It must really suck to get morning sickness every 90 minutes!

[Anonymous Coward]

Yui and NASA astronaut Chris Williams

Moonlighting editor?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Yui and NASA astronaut Chris Williams

Yeah, cool to see ElReg Editor in Chief 2018-2025 Chris Williams spending quality time doing microbiology experiments in space ... love the NASA outfit, among others! ;)

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Yui and NASA astronaut Chris Williams

> ElReg Editor in Chief 2018-2025

Oh dear Stallman, even the editor is a septic these days. :'(

[A Non e-mouse]

Sympathy

I feel sorry for Nasa & the astrounauts. They're desperately trying to protect the person's identity and their condition, yet the internet will be foaming at the mouth with theories about who is ill and what the issue is.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Sympathy

Just be careful over lunch after he recovers

[I am David Jones]

Re: Sympathy

Maybe NASA don’t even know - in space no-one can hear you barf

[herman]

Re: Sympathy

Norovirus will be rather problematic in microgravity

[The commentard formerly known as Mister_C]

Re: Sympathy

I hope he doesn't look like John Hurt. Or have stomach cramps.

not that alien -->

[that one in the corner]

Mystery astronaut malady

Paging Doctor Quatermass, will Doctor Bernard Quatermass please attend in the cupola.

We are perfectly safe, unless - do they have any cacti on board the ISS?

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Re: Mystery astronaut malady

Wilfred Mott: "God bless the cactuses!"

The Doctor: "That's cacti!"

Rossiter (the Vinvocci guard): "And that's racist!"

[Anonymous Coward]

Call off the Thunderbirds...

Oh, Parker, you said malady.... I thought you said M'lady....