Smoke on space station traced to water heater

A galley water heater is being blamed for smoke aboard the International Space Station.

Russian astronauts reported smoke and a burning smell in their main compartment yesterday.

There wasn't enough smoke to activate the alarms or to warrant the use of masks by the six-man crew. The smoke came from a vent and dissipated within a half hour or so.

Commander Steven Swanson says there was only a small amount of smoke and everyone was fine.

The astronauts quickly disconnected the electric water-heating unit and activated air purifiers in the Zvezda compartment, Russian for star.

Today, the astronauts installed a spare unit. NASA says it's working normally.
 

A similar problem occurred in 2009.

The astronauts say they didn't see anything unusual with the removed device.