Space junk risk delays ISS maintenance mission
30 November 2021, 15:04
Nasa Mission Control learned that a piece of orbiting debris might come dangerously close to the space station.
Nasa has called off a spacewalk because of menacing space junk that could puncture an astronaut’s suit or damage the International Space Station.
Two US astronauts were set to replace a bad antenna outside of the space station.
But late on Monday night, Mission Control learned that a piece of orbiting debris might come dangerously close.
There was not enough time to assess the threat, so station managers delayed the spacewalk for at least a few days.
NASA received a debris notification for the space station. Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the Nov. 30 spacewalk until more information is available. https://t.co/HJCXFWBd3Y pic.twitter.com/swj5hqusSo
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) November 30, 2021
It marks the first time a spacewalk has been cancelled because of a threat from space junk.
The space station and its crew of seven have been at increased risk from space junk since Russia destroyed a satellite in a missile test two weeks ago.
It was not immediately clear whether the object of concern was part of the Russian satellite wreckage.
New images show the @Space_Station in all its glory.
In early November, Crew-2 astronaut @Thom_Astro photographed the orbiting laboratory during the return trip home aboard the @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour: https://t.co/vHcH5sttWX pic.twitter.com/IOQBqnhm8e
— NASA (@NASA) November 30, 2021
During a news conference on Monday, Nasa officials said the November 15 missile test resulted in at least 1,700 satellite pieces big enough to track, and thousands more too small to be observed from the ground but still able to pierce a spacewalker’s suit.
Nasa officials said astronauts Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron faced a 7% greater risk of a spacewalk puncture because of the Russian-generated debris.
But they said it was still within acceptable limits based on previous experience.
Mr Marshburn and Ms Barron arrived at the space station earlier this month.
