(Image source: Space.com)
BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
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Even in low Earth orbit, traffic can still be a problem. For the second time in its 11-year mission, the International Space Station had an uninvited guest. Fox News reports.
“A very close call for the six astronauts aboard the International Space Station. A passing piece of space junk forced the crew to take shelter suddenly in their Soyuz capsules. All systems, though, are clear now.”
Normally, when an object looks like it will get too close for comfort, the station can simply fire its thrusters and move to safety. But a writer for Space.com says they just didn’t have enough warning, and had to resort to a backup plan.
“In this case, the best the spaceflyers could do was board two Russian Soyuz spacecraft, the vehicles they had ridden into orbit and will take back to Earth, which are parked at the station's docking ports. In the unlikely event of a collision between the debris and the outpost, the astronauts could use the Soyuz craft to make a speedy escape.”
The piece of space junk hasn’t been identified yet, but it came within 800 feet of the station. Discovery News says the astronauts had every reason to be cautious.
“Space debris is a serious threat to operational spacecraft circling Earth due to the incredibly high speeds of objects in orbit. Even a small piece of junk moving at orbital velocity of 5 miles per second can pack a deadly wallop.”
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