Space Station Gyro Breaks Down

A gyroscope failed on board the International Space Station Wednesday evening, but NASA says that it doesn’t pose a risk to astronaut safety. The gyroscope failed only hours after the hatch was opened between the station and the Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts. The station’s four gyroscopes are designed to keep it oriented properly in space, but it can still work with only one functioning gyro. Even if that fails, the station can use maneuvering jets on the attached Soyuz capsules for keeping position. A previous gyro broke a year ago, and it was supposed to have been repaired, but the Columbia disaster put this on hold.