ISS Astronauts, Including Sunita Williams Seek Shelter as Russian Satellite Breaks Up Nearby

Photo : AP

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), faced a new threat when a decommissioned Russian satellite broke up in low-Earth orbit, prompting them to take emergency shelter. The incident involving the RESURS-P1 (#39186) satellite occurred on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at around 10:00 AM Mountain Time (16:00 UTC), scattering over 100 pieces of trackable debris according to US Space Command.

The US Space Command confirmed the breakup through a press release issued on June 27, 2024. NASA's Space Station Office reported that upon the satellite's breakup near the ISS, American astronauts were instructed to seek refuge in their spacecraft for approximately one hour as a precautionary measure.

In response to the event, US Space Command assured that there were no immediate threats observed and ongoing assessments were being conducted to ensure the safety and sustainability of activities in space. However, the specific cause of the satellite's fragmentation has not yet been determined, with investigations ongoing.

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LeoLabs, a space-tracking firm, detected the debris-generating event and initially estimated the breakup occurred between 9:05 AM and 8:51 PM Eastern Time. They identified the RESURS-P1 satellite, weighing approximately 6,000 kilograms, in a nearly circular orbit at about 355 kilometers altitude at the time of the incident. LeoLabs subsequently reported tracking at least 180 fragments resulting from the breakup, with expectations of further fragment identification in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard their Boeing Starliner spacecraft since June 5 after technical issues extended their mission beyond its original duration, followed safety protocols by seeking shelter during the satellite event. Their prolonged stay on the ISS, originally intended for an 8-day mission, has been attributed to ongoing spacecraft maintenance related to minor helium system leaks and thruster performance issues. NASA affirmed that despite these challenges, the Starliner remains capable of safely returning the astronauts to Earth when necessary.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about space debris and its impact on space missions, highlighting the complex challenges faced by astronauts and space agencies in managing space exploration activities amidst evolving technical and safety considerations.

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