Space
Space Debris Cracks Window of International Space Station
Sam D
First Posted: May 13, 2016 05:13 AM EDT
The window on the International Space Station (ISS) was hit by a small piece of space debris recently. The impact left behind a 7mm circular indentation, according to reports. The photo of the damaged cupola was released by British astronaut Tim Peake last month; however the details have just been released. The cracked window poses no danger to the astronauts currently on board the station.
"I am often asked if the International Space Station is hit by space debris," Tim Peake said. "Yes - this is the chip in one of our Cupola windows, glad it is quadruple glazed!" The cupola, which is made from borosilicate glass and fused silica, was integrated to the ISS in 2010 and is used by its residents to get a glimpse of the world outside. The window is also used as a work and observation area from where the ISS crew controls the station's robotic arm. Incidentally, Tim Peake has shared numerous images of space and Earth taken through the cupola, since he embarked on his space stint.
According to a report in the Washington Post, a European Space Agency (ESA) spokesman said minor strikes like the one currently seen pose no threat to the station as it is protected with extensive shielding around all vital technical and crew areas. However, larger debris can be a possible threat to the ISS. In fact, even an object measuring one centimeter in size could pierce through shields of the station's crew modules. Space debris measuring more than 10 centimeters could altogether shatter and disintegrate a spacecraft or satellite into pieces.
The problem of space debris can be solved by not causing them in the first place according to ESA, and the organization adheres to the debris mitigation guidelines to stop the creation of such orbital particles during its space missions. As per the rules followed by ESA, it is strictly forbidden to dump discharging batteries and fuel tanks at the end of a mission so that explosions can be avoided.
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First Posted: May 13, 2016 05:13 AM EDT
The window on the International Space Station (ISS) was hit by a small piece of space debris recently. The impact left behind a 7mm circular indentation, according to reports. The photo of the damaged cupola was released by British astronaut Tim Peake last month; however the details have just been released. The cracked window poses no danger to the astronauts currently on board the station.
"I am often asked if the International Space Station is hit by space debris," Tim Peake said. "Yes - this is the chip in one of our Cupola windows, glad it is quadruple glazed!" The cupola, which is made from borosilicate glass and fused silica, was integrated to the ISS in 2010 and is used by its residents to get a glimpse of the world outside. The window is also used as a work and observation area from where the ISS crew controls the station's robotic arm. Incidentally, Tim Peake has shared numerous images of space and Earth taken through the cupola, since he embarked on his space stint.
According to a report in the Washington Post, a European Space Agency (ESA) spokesman said minor strikes like the one currently seen pose no threat to the station as it is protected with extensive shielding around all vital technical and crew areas. However, larger debris can be a possible threat to the ISS. In fact, even an object measuring one centimeter in size could pierce through shields of the station's crew modules. Space debris measuring more than 10 centimeters could altogether shatter and disintegrate a spacecraft or satellite into pieces.
The problem of space debris can be solved by not causing them in the first place according to ESA, and the organization adheres to the debris mitigation guidelines to stop the creation of such orbital particles during its space missions. As per the rules followed by ESA, it is strictly forbidden to dump discharging batteries and fuel tanks at the end of a mission so that explosions can be avoided.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone