150+ bones of dead Russian satellite scatter in space, scare ISS astronauts

A defunct Russian satellite suffered an explosion in low Earth orbit, creating a debris cloud that forced the astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take shelter.

Thankfully, no collisions occurred, and the ISS resumed normal operations.

The satellite, Resurs P1, shattered into over 100 pieces on June 26.

NASA posted on X (previously Twitter): “@NASA instructed crews aboard the space station to shelter in their respective spacecraft as a standard precautionary measure after it was informed of a satellite break-up.”

On June 27, the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) stated on X that there are “no immediate threats” and they are still monitoring the situation to prevent future problems in space. The cause of the breakup is still unclear.

Over 180 pieces of debris tracked

The debris cloud was first identified by LeoLabs, a space tracking company that utilizes a network of radars to monitor objects in low Earth orbit.

They estimate that the breakup occurred between 9:05 AM and 8:51 PM Eastern time on June 26th. As of June 27th, LeoLabs was tracking at least 180 pieces of debris , and the number might increase further.

Resurs-P1 was a hefty (around 6,000 kg) Russian satellite launched for Earth observation in 2013. As per SpaceNews, it retired in 2021 and its orbit around Earth was slowly getting lower.

The satellite broke apart at a height of just around 355 kilometers. It was expected to return to Earth before the end of the year. The orbital station circles Earth at a distance of around 250 miles (400 kilometers).

Reason behind the explosion remains unknown

The reason for the satellite’s breakup remains a mystery. The most likely reason is that it was not properly decommissioned after the completion of its job. This might have resulted in internal energy accumulation and explosion.

During satellite decommissioning, the process of passivation occurs, which involves removing potential energy sources, like batteries, to prevent such unexpected explosions in the orbit.

Some possibilities include a collision with an undetected piece of space junk. One scenario that has been making rounds is a spacecraft being struck by Russia’s anti-satellite (ASAT) missile.

Reportedly , it is suspected that this incident might be similar to a November 2021 event where Russia intentionally destroyed its defunct satellite with an ASAT weapon. The test generated nearly 1,800 pieces of trackable debris. Even in this incident, the debris forced the crew to take shelter in their docked spacecraft for safety.

But, there’s been no official word from either the US Department of Defense or the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding a possible anti-satellite missile test.

In a move aimed at curbing the weaponization of space, the UN passed a resolution against anti-satellite missile tests in 2022. But, Russia and China voted against it.

The space industry is booming, and regulations need to catch up. With more and more satellites launched every year, the risk of collisions increases. This debris can damage or destroy operational spacecraft, threatening future space missions.