NASA Delays Spacewalk on November 30 Due to Space Debris Risk Near the ISS
According to the schedule, two astronauts were set to don their spacesuits, float outside the ISS, and spend 6.5 hours replacing a faulty antenna system. However, early on November 30, NASA announced that they received a “debris warning” concerning the ISS the night before. Authorities did not disclose when the debris would pass by the ISS or at what distance. NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron will conduct the spacewalk on another date.
Astronaut Thomas Pesquet during a spacewalk in June 2021. (Photo: ESA)
“Due to a lack of opportunity to fully assess the risks to the astronauts, we decided to postpone the spacewalk originally scheduled for November 30 to another date until we have more information,” NASA stated.
This is not the first time space debris has disrupted operations at the ISS. The amount of debris in Earth’s orbit has been steadily increasing over the years due to spacecraft breaking apart, inactive satellites colliding, and countries testing satellite-destroying missiles. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), an average of 12 such events have occurred each year over the past two decades.
Space debris not only disrupts NASA’s schedule but also poses significant risks. Hundreds of thousands of fragments from old satellites and rockets orbit the Earth at speeds up to 10 times faster than a bullet. If a piece of space debris were to strike the ISS, it could create a breach. If it hit an astronaut during a spacewalk, the incident could be fatal. In 2020, the ISS had to adjust its altitude three times to avoid the trajectory of high-risk debris. In June 2021, a piece of space debris punctured the robotic arm that assists with spacewalks at the ISS.
Authorities are unclear if the debris on November 30 is related to Russia’s satellite destruction test conducted on November 15. This test caused an old Russian spacecraft to explode, creating a cloud of debris scattered throughout Earth’s orbit. Astronauts aboard the ISS had to temporarily take refuge in a spacecraft, prepared to separate from the station and make an emergency return to Earth if necessary. After approximately two hours of emergency sheltering, they returned to normal operations. Dana Weigel, deputy manager of NASA’s ISS program, stated that it would take several months to classify the larger debris from Russia’s missile test and assess their proximity as they pass by the ISS.
