Fragments of a Russian satellite have endangered the International Space Station (ISS). Space tracking company LeoLabs detected a cloud of debris after the disintegration of a Russian satellite. The United States Space Command said on X (ex Twitter) on June 26, 2024 that more than 100 pieces ended up in space, with a risk of collision with the ISS.
The satellite was orbiting at an altitude of 355 km above Earth, while the International Space Station was about 400 km away. As a result, astronauts aboard the ISS were advised to take shelter as a precaution, NASA wrote on X.
« Mission Control continued to monitor the trajectory of the debris, and after about an hour, the crew was cleared to leave their spacecraft and the station resumed normal operations “, the space agency added.
The ISS is still in orbit around the Earth. // Source: Nasa (cropped image)
Russia destroys satellites for testing
Moscow is often accused of irresponsible behavior in space. In 2021, Russia deliberately destroyed a decommissioned Soviet satellite in low Earth orbit during an anti-satellite test, producing thousands of fragments of debris. NASA condemned the act,
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Cover image photo credits: Satellite fragments have endangered the ISS. // Source: ESA
