Panic aboard the International Space Station. Just days after the return to Earth of Frenchman Thomas Pesquet, the ISS had to wipe off a wave of debris that could impact the proper functioning of the structure, NASA informed.
As a precaution, the seven astronauts on board were asked to confine themselves to the vessels docked at the International Space Station, Soyuz and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. A procedure allowing them to leave the ISS towards Earth in the event of an extreme emergency.
The situation is all the more delicate in that orbit 400 km around the Earth, the space station, with its speed of 28,000 km / h, would risk being strongly impacted in the event of a space collision.
Russian ballistic test carried out on a satellite
Since humans launched the conquest of space, many debris have revolved around our planet. They are also monitored by a relatively precise statistical model.
It was found that this debris came from a Russian ballistic test carried out on a satellite, as confirmed later in the evening by the American authorities.
“Earlier today, Russia irresponsibly conducted a destructive direct-ascension anti-satellite missile test against one of its own satellites,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. American, calling Moscow’s behavior “dangerous and irresponsible”.
According to him, this action has “generated more than 1,500 traceable orbital debris, and hundreds of thousands of smaller pieces of orbital debris which now threaten the interests of all nations.”
I am scandalized by this irresponsible and destabilizing action
–
The NASA boss said he was “scandalized” by the missile fire carried out by Russia against one of its satellites, having forced the astronauts present in the International Space Station to prepare for an emergency evacuation in cause of the generated debris.
“It is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only American astronauts and international partners in the ISS, but also its own cosmonauts,” Bill Nelson said in a statement. “I am outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action.”
–
