Astronauts Repair Balky Soda Machine
HOUSTON — The Coke machine aboard the space shuttle is apparently working again, but the taste-test results from orbit aren’t in yet.
Endeavour astronauts Daniel Bursch and Marc Garneau spent nearly two hours fixing the new soda fountain Thursday while taking a break from a hectic schedule of satellite work. The dispenser yielded only skimpy, foamy servings of Coke and Diet Coke when it was first used earlier in the mission.
Engineers back on Earth determined the problem was an electrical circuit that kept the machine from cooling properly and resulted in too much fizz.
The astronauts removed a panel on the dispenser and bypassed the troublesome circuit. NASA said it appeared the repair worked.
The soda machine is among the experiments in the shuttle’s science laboratory. NASA considers it a study in mixing liquids (soda syrup) and gas (carbonation) in space.
Endeavour is due to end its 10-day flight with a landing Wednesday at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
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