On September 7, 2018 news agencies around the world reported the story of an emergency that took place in space. The Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, which was docked to the International Space Station, was losing cabin pressure at an alarming rate. Since it was connected to the ISS, this meant that its air was leaking into space as well. Once NASA informed the combined crews of the situation, they scrambled through the Soyuz spacecraft to locate the leak.
One of the astronauts was Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency. He discovered the source of the leak – a two-millimeter-wide hole. At first the crew believed a small meteorite or a piece of space junk had struck the spacecraft. Further investigation, however, has concluded that the hole originated on Earth – either during the spacecraft's manufacture or set up.
But how does one deal with a hole that is allowing life-giving oxygen to escape into space? Does he or she cite protocol or turn to "battle drills" as specified in a manual? Does he or she wait for guidance from the ground-based mission control? Does he or she look for the technical expert on spacecraft-leaks or, conversely, dump the problem on the junior member of the crew?
Well, since Gerst was the "first responder," he found his own solution. He placed the pinky finger of his left hand over the hole – and held it there. Of course, NASA experts on the ground grumbled, "I don't think that's the best remedy for it." But that's the remedy Gerst used – until the other astronauts found some "industrial space tape" to plug the hole. The story is reminiscent of the folklore about the little Dutch boy who saved the day by plugging a leaking dike with his finger. That of course was not "the best remedy," but it was only one available.
Sometimes perfection can be the enemy of good enough and sometimes the perfect solution is not the timeliest. It is during these times we must apply our best judgement and act.
On my honor, I will do my best.