Last night, astronauts aboard the International Space Station had to seek shelter after a Russian satellite broke into more than 100 pieces. In response to this incident, the nine astronauts living on the space station were advised to take refuge in their respective spacecraft. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams sought shelter in their Starliner spacecraft, while three other US astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut entered SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. The sixth US astronaut joined the two remaining cosmonauts in their Russian Soyuz capsule.
After about an hour, the astronauts were able to resume their regular activities on the space station, as reported by NASA. The cause of the Russian Earth observation satellite’s breakup, declared dead in 2022, remains unknown. While some experts speculate that it may have been due to a problem with the satellite itself, such as leftover fuel causing an explosion, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
Although there were concerns that Russia might have deliberately targeted the satellite with a ground-based anti-satellite missile, Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell expressed skepticism about this possibility. He emphasized that it would be unlikely for Russia to use such a large satellite for an anti-satellite target. However, given previous incidents where Russia destroyed one of its defunct satellites with a missile, there is still uncertainty surrounding the exact cause of the satellite breakup.
US Space Command, responsible for monitoring the debris resulting from the satellite breakup, has reassured that there is no immediate threat to other satellites in orbit. This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks associated with space activities, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and responsible conduct in space exploration. As the astronauts return to their daily tasks on the space station, the incident underscores the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of unexpected events in space.
