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A Russian satellite broke into 100 pieces near the International Space Station, delaying Sunita Williams’ return to Earth.
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The space debris poses a navigational hazard, forcing astronauts to take shelter for an hour.
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Williams’ return flight on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is facing significant delays, potentially stretching to months.
A defunct Russian satellite has broken apart into hundreds of pieces of space debris near the International Space Station (ISS), where Indian-born astronaut Sunita Williams is currently stuck. The incident has cast uncertainty over her return to Earth, which was originally scheduled for a few days. The space debris poses a significant navigational hazard, forcing Williams and her fellow astronauts to take shelter for an hour.
The incident has also thrown the mission timeline of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft into disarray. Williams and NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore boarded the Starliner capsule on June 6 for its first crewed test mission. However, the recent events have delayed their return to Earth, with NASA considering extending the mission from 45 days to 90 days. The agency is prioritizing the astronauts’ safety during their descent through the debris field and will determine a new return date once the risk from the space debris has subsided.
The delay is undoubtedly disappointing for Williams and her team, but NASA is diligently monitoring the situation to ensure their safe return. The incident highlights the risks of space debris and the importance of proper satellite maintenance. With the space debris expected to remain a hazard for weeks to months, Williams’ return to Earth remains uncertain.
