Bombed Their Own Satellite Creating Dangerous Space Junk
Endangers International Space Station, Crew & Space Travel
Quoting NASA Press Release
On Monday 11/15/2021, the International Space Station (ISS) Flight Control team was notified of indications of a satellite breakup that may create sufficient debris to pose a conjunction threat to the station. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement about the incident:
“Due to the debris generated by the destructive Russian Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test, ISS astronauts and cosmonauts undertook emergency procedures for safety.
“Like Secretary Blinken, I’m outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action.
With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts.
Their actions are reckless and dangerous, threatening as well the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board.
“All nations have a responsibility to prevent the purposeful creation of space debris from ASATs and to foster a safe, sustainable space environment.
“NASA will continue monitoring the debris in the coming days and beyond to ensure the safety of our crew in orbit.”
The crew was awakened and directed to close the hatches to radial modules on the station, including:
- Columbus,
- Kibo,
- Permanent Multipurpose Module,
- Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, and
- Quest Joint Airlock.
Hatches between the U.S. and Russian segments remain open.
An additional precaution of sheltering the crew was executed for two passes through or near the vicinity of the debris cloud.
Crew entered back into their spacecraft shortly before 2 a.m., EST and remained there until about 4 a.m.
The space station is passing through or near the cloud every 90 minutes.
But, risk assessment from the debris office and ballistics specialists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston decided to shelter for only the second and third passes near the space junk.
Sources:
NASA Press Release “NASA Adminstrator Statement on Russian ASAT Test”
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-administrator-statement-on-russian-asat-test
U.S. Decries Russia … Creating Dangerous Orbiting Space Debris, by Alex Nitzberg, The Blaze
https://www.theblaze.com/news/u-s-condemns-russia-for-hitting-its-own-satellite-with-missile-creating-dangerous-space-debris
TAGS:
#Russia, #Soviet Union, #alex nitzberg, #the blaze, #nasa, #satellite, #explosion, #bombed, #space junk, #debris, #polluter, #number one polluter, #pollution, #litter, #journalkentucky, #international space station, #ASAT
