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A Russian satellite breaks apart, litters 200 space junk into our orbit.

RESURS-P1 so-called Russian 'Earth-observation' satellite broke up creating a debris field of 180-plus pieces. NASA astronauts took emergency action and sheltered in place, highlighting the increasing threat of debris and并开始distructive sat tests by Russia.

Published June 28, 2024 at 9:43am by Anthony Robledo

Russian Satellite Breaks Into 180+ Pieces, Forcing NASA Crew to Shelter

A Russian satellite has shattered in low-Earth orbit, causing a NASA crew to take shelter in their spacecraft as a precaution.

U.S. Space Command says the RESURS-P1 Russian Earth observation satellite operated by Roscosmos broke apart around noon ET on Wednesday.

"Space Command has observed no threats and is continuing assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain."

The cause of the breakup is unknown.

NASA Crew Shelters

The NASA crew on the International Space Station (ISS) sheltered in their spacecraft for an hour while Mission Control monitored the debris' path.

"We detected over 180 pieces of debris... We expect this number to increase in the coming days. We are actively analyzing the debris cloud..." LeoLabs, Twitter

Impact of Space Junk

The addition of large debris in space threatens essential satellite networks, impacting internet, communications, and navigation services. Also known as space junk, non-operational satellites and human-made objects can remain in orbit, posing long-term risks.

The European Space Agency (ESA) warns of the Kessler Syndrome, where multiplying debris could make Earth's orbit unusable.

"The impact of the overcrowding orbit may be irreversible..." Scientists

Previous incidents:

2021: Russia blast added thousands of orbital debris pieces.
2009: Two satellites collided over Siberia, adding significant debris.

Action: In 2022, ESA adopted the Zero Debris Charter, aiming to eradicate space junk by 2030.

Sources: U.S. Space Command (1), NASA (2), LeoLabs (3)), European Space Agency (4, 5)