On the International Space Station, US astronauts had to take shelter for a while after a nearby Russian satellite disintegrated, causing a mass of debris in orbit.
Satellite debris
Russian satellite incident
American cosmonauts on the ISS had to hide in their ships for about an hour after a Russian satellite fell apart near the station. NASA says the incident occurred Thursday evening and the shelter-in-place order was a precautionary measure. An hour later the crew resumed normal activities.
Resurs-P1 satellite
The US Space Command said that the Russian-owned Resurs-P1 satellite, which was decommissioned in 2021, was destroyed. Its collapse created over a hundred traceable pieces of debris. LeoLabs estimates that the satellite weighed about 6 tons and had a nearly circular orbit.
Debris Cloud
In a statement, the US Space Command said there were no immediate threats, but the situation was being assessed to ensure the safety of space activities. LeoLabs is already tracking more than 180 pieces of debris from the destruction of the satellite, and the number of fragments is expected to increase. The company is analyzing the debris cloud and its causes.
Purpose of the satellite
The Russian Resurs-P1 was an observation satellite that captured high-resolution images with the ability to distinguish objects on Earth from a distance of about a meter between them. Roscosmos announced its inactivity from the end of 2021 due to failure of on-board equipment after 3.5 years of additional work.
Space Debris Hazards
Satellite debris in low Earth orbit can pose a threat to other spacecraft and stations. They are able to remain in orbit for decades until gravity pulls them into the atmosphere. Space agencies are working to reduce the amount of space debris in low orbits as the number of spent satellites grows.
Satellite Disposal
The preferred method for disposing of used satellites is to send them to higher orbits, which reduces the risks to the near-Earth activities. Another option is to deorbit the satellite to burn up in the atmosphere.
Glossary
- NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States
- ISS - International Space Station
- "Resurs-P1" - Russian Earth remote sensing satellite
- "Roscosmos" - State Corporation for Space Activities "Roscosmos"
- LeoLabs - a private company that tracks objects in low Earth orbit
Links
Questions answered
Why did American astronauts on the International Space Station have to hide?
What happened to the Russian satellite Resurs-P1?
What consequences could the disintegration of a satellite in low Earth orbit have?
How are space agencies trying to reduce the amount of space debris?
What was the Russian Resurs-P1 satellite used for?
Hashtags
Save a link to this article
Discussion of the topic – NASA astronauts hid on the ISS due to debris from a Russian satellite
Following the disintegration of a Russian satellite, American astronauts on the ISS had to take refuge in their spacecraft for about an hour for safety.
Latest comments
8 comments
Write a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are checked *
Günther
Everything is leading to the fact that over time, space may become such a pile of rubbish that it will soon be very dangerous to send people there😳. NASA did the right thing by ordering the astronauts to hide from the debris. Crew safety is the most important thing. Maybe it's time to develop technologies for cleaning up space debris?
Émilie
Yes, the situation with space debris is getting worse 😕. This case of the Russian satellite shows that even after decommissioning, satellites can pose a danger. The development of orbital cleaning systems is one of the key tasks to ensure the safety of future space missions.
Zbigniew
What does the old grumpy Maxim think about this? 🤔 I'm sure he has a couple of caustic remarks about the uselessness of modern technology and its impact on the environment!
Максим
Hmm, here we have a great example of how progress can create problems 🙄. Why launch more and more satellites if they later turn into dangerous junk? Maybe it's time to come to your senses and focus on solving existing problems, rather than creating new ones?
Isabella
I think it's not about technology as such, but about how we use it 💭. Satellites are very important for modern society - they help in navigation, meteorology, communications and many other areas. But we need to find a reasonable balance and take care of the ecology of space. It may be worth reconsidering the life cycle of satellites - making them more durable or completely disposing of them after the end of their service life.
Mateusz
What happened with the Resurs-P1 satellite is a good lesson for all space agencies and companies 👨🏫. We must not forget about potential risks even after the device is taken out of service. It might make sense to create international rules and standards for satellite disposal to avoid such incidents.
Claudia
Very good idea about international standards 👍! Space does not recognize borders, so only by joining forces can we secure it for future generations. In the meantime, the technology for cleaning orbits has not yet been created, it is necessary to pay special attention to planning the decommissioning of satellites. Maybe it’s even worth considering the possibility of sending used vehicles to special “space cemeteries”? 🤔
Sergiy
In my opinion, the main problem is that even at the design stage, few people think about the fate of the satellite after the end of its mission 😕. Perhaps we should start designing them so that there is minimal waste when the work is completed? Or even build in mechanisms to self-destruct the device after leaving orbit. Of course, this will complicate and increase the cost of creating satellites, but it will help avoid the accumulation of debris in space. And safety is more important, isn't it? 🛰️