The day astronauts found something disturbing near the International Space Station and had to return immediately
In October last year, Russian astronauts from International Space Station faced a tense and unexpected situation. During a routine spacewalk, intended to repair a faulty radiator, they came across something that made them immediately return to the ISS: a disturbing substance that could put the entire operation at risk.
When it comes to space, surprises seem to be inevitable, even with all the training and preparation of astronauts. Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, experienced astronauts from International Space Station, were on a seemingly simple repair mission when they discovered something no one could have predicted.
Ground crew and astronauts were intrigued
It all started with a routine inspection on a radiator panel. Kononenko, while investigating a fault, found several holes in the panel, all with very regular edges, as if they had been deliberately drilled. He immediately reported it to mission control in Moscow, describing the holes as numerous and chaotically arranged. At first, the ground crew and astronauts were intrigued, but what was to come would be even more disturbing.
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As he continued his inspection, Kononenko came across a strange globular formation, possibly composed of coolant. The fluid, although not immediately dangerous, posed a potential risk, especially considering the sensitive nature of the space environment. The tension increased when he realized that this substance had contaminated one of his bonds, creating a delicate situation.
Immediate return of astronauts to International Space Station
Faced with the gravity of the situation, Roscosmos mission control had no choice but to order the astronauts' immediate return to Earth. International Space Station. But there was one crucial detail: before re-entering the ISS, Kononenko and Chub needed to bag the contaminated tether and leave it outside the station. This was essential to avoid any risk of contamination within the controlled environment of the ISS.
The spacewalk, which was supposed to be a routine task, quickly turned into a reminder of the constant dangers astronauts face. Before being surprised by the leak, the astronauts still managed to install a synthetic radar communications system and launched a nanosatellite, intended to test solar sail technology, a significant advance in monitoring the Earth's environment.
Mistério
As for the cause of the leak, it still remains a mystery. The most accepted theory is that the “bubble” was formed from residual coolant, which was disturbed during the work of closing the valves. Even though they were prepared to deal with liquids, the astronauts were surprised when one of Kononenko's tethers came into contact with the substance.
Now, Russian engineers from Roscosmos are analyzing the data collected by the astronauts to better understand what happened and how to prevent something similar from happening in the future. The experience highlights not only the technical challenges faced by astronauts in International Space Station, but also the constant need to adapt and respond quickly in an environment as unforgiving as space.