From the International Space Station (ISS), French astronaut Thomas Pesquet observed the Pirs module breaking apart like fireworks.
The European Space Agency (ESA) shared a timelapse video showing the Russian Pirs module burning up during its descent back to Earth on July 26, under Pesquet’s watch. “The re-entry process without a heat shield turns the object into a fireball,” Pesquet shared. “You can clearly see small molten metal pieces shooting out like fireworks.”
Pirs module burning up in the atmosphere.
Astronauts were able to observe the Pirs module breaking into many pieces above the clouds for about six minutes. Pesquet likened the sight to shooting stars in the sky.
The Pirs Module ceased operations after nearly 20 years of docking with the ISS. The module was launched into orbit on September 14, 2001, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, alongside an upgraded Progress spacecraft on a Soyuz-U rocket. Three days later, Pirs docked with the Zvezda service module, becoming the sixth module of the orbital complex.
The old Pirs module was decommissioned to make way for a new science module named Nauka. After docking with the ISS, the Nauka module experienced a software error that caused its thrusters to fire unexpectedly, temporarily misaligning the space station.
NASA representatives emphasized multiple times that the Expedition 65 crew was not in danger and that the situation was resolved quickly. All other systems on the station functioned normally throughout the incident.
Pirs module falling through the atmosphere. (Video: Thomas Pesquet/ESA/NASA).
