The U.S. space agency reported that a Russian satellite has shattered into over 100 pieces in orbit, forcing astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take shelter.
The cause of the breakup of the RESURS-P1 Earth observation satellite remains unclear. This satellite had been inactive since 2022. On June 27, the U.S. Space Command stated that there was no immediate threat as they monitored the debris.
U.S. Space Command reports satellite released over 100 pieces of debris. (Illustrative image).
The U.S. Space Command indicated that the satellite broke apart around 4 PM GMT on June 26. NASA’s ISS office reported that the incident occurred in orbit near the ISS, prompting the American astronauts aboard to shelter for approximately one hour.
Tadar, a company monitoring space debris, LeoLabs, detected the satellite ejecting numerous fragments within two hours following the breakup.
Incidents resulting in debris in outer space are rare, but this is increasingly concerning as space becomes crowded with numerous satellite networks that are critical for everyday life on Earth, from broadband internet to communications and navigation services.
In 2021, Russia was reported to have destroyed an inactive satellite using an anti-satellite missile from the ground, creating thousands of pieces of debris as a test of new weaponry.
The risk of satellite collisions and space warfare has led some to call for the establishment of an international framework to manage satellites in space, but none has been implemented to date.
