Seven ISS astronauts EVACUATE into transport spaceships after Russia conducted major anti-satellite weapons test and sent debris flying ‘uncomfortably close’
- The US is investigating a ‘debris-generating event in space’ after astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to prepare for a possible evacuation
- It came amid unconfirmed reports that Russia performed an anti-satellite weapon test
- The space junk passes started early Monday, with the ISS making closes passes every 90 minutes
- The tests have been criticized by the space community because of the risk they create for crews in low Earth orbit
- NASA has not yet commented, but its Russian counterpart Roscomos, downplayed the incident
The U.S. said on Monday that it was investigating a ‘debris-generating event in outer space’ after astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to prepare for a possible evacuation.
It came amid unconfirmed reports that Russia had carried out an anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) test – rare show-of-force demonstrations criticized by the space community because of the risk they create for crews in low Earth orbit.
‘US Space Command is aware of a debris-generating event in outer space. We are actively working to characterize the debris field and will continue to ensure all space-faring nations have the information necessary to maneuver satellites if impacted,’ the agency said.
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‘We are also in the process of working with… the State Department and NASA, concerning these reports and will provide an update in the near future.’
The US is investigating a ‘debris-generating event in space’ after astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to prepare for a possible evacuation
Russian space agency Roscomos confirmed something had happened, but it downplayed the incident
The space junk passes started in the early hours on Monday, with the ISS making closes passes every 90 minutes or so, Space.com added.
At this time, the ISS appears to be functioning normally and all seven astronauts onboard the floating space laboratory are safe.
DailyMail.com has reached out to NASA and Space Command with a request for comment on the incident.
Russian space agency Roscomos confirmed something had happened, but it downplayed the incident.
‘The orbit of the object, which forced the crew today to move into spacecraft according to standard procedures, has moved away from the ISS orbit. The station is in the green zone,’ the agency tweeted.
‘Friends, everything is regular with us! We continue to work according to the program,’ tweeted Anton Shkaplerov, the current commander of the outpost.
The ISS appears to be functioning normally and all seven astronauts on board, including the four who headed to space last week, are safe.
‘Friends, everything is regular with us! We continue to work according to the program,’ tweeted Anton Shkaplerov, the current commander of the outpost
The ISS appears to be functioning normally and all seven astronauts onboard the floating space laboratory are safe
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei thanked NASA’s mission control at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for the ‘situational awareness’ they gave the astronauts during a check-in marking the end of the astronauts’ day at about 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT), according to Space.com.
‘It was certainly a great way to bond as a crew, starting off our very first workday in space,’ Vande Hei added.
The tests have been criticized by the Biden Administration and the space community because of the risk they create for crews in low Earth orbit
It came amid unconfirmed reports President Vladimir Putin and Russia performed an anti-satellite weapon test
We’re looking forward to a calmer day tomorrow.’
Earlier, NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer floated into their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for safety, according to a report by Spaceflight now.
At the same time, Russian cosmonauts Shkaplerov, Pyotr Dubrov, and Vande Hei boarded a Soyuz spacecraft on the Russian segment, the outlet added.
Both spacecraft can be used as lifeboats to bring crew back to Earth in an emergency.
US space industry analyst Serata tweeted the debris might have been caused by a missile test.
‘ASAT missile strike now suspected. Seradata SpaceTrak database orbital data had Cosmos 1408 (an old Soviet satellite) in a 487 x 461 km orbit — a bit higher than ISS but not much,’ the company tweeted.
‘The ASAT strike on Cosmos 1408 would cause some debris to be fired below it…threatening ISS with a crossing debris cloud.’
Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer headed towards the floating space lab last week aboard a SpaceX rocket.
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