Tag: Space Safety
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AI-Driven Satellite Reorientation Marks a New Era of Space Autonomy
Overview: AI Takes the Helm in Space Orientation In a landmark achievement, researchers have demonstrated autonomous AI control over a satellite’s orientation in orbit. By steering the spacecraft’s attitude without human intervention, this breakthrough signals a significant move toward fully autonomous operations in space. The achievement promises to enhance mission safety, reliability, and efficiency as…
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China Contacts NASA to Prevent Satellite Collision: A Milestone
Historic Outreach Ties China and NASA in Groundbreaking Space Coordination In a move that could reshape how the international community manages risks in space, China publicly contacted NASA to arrange a coordinated maneuver aimed at preventing a potential collision between satellites. The outreach marks a rare instance of direct cooperation between two major space powers…
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A Run of Near-Earth Visitors: NASA-Tracked Asteroids Whiz Past Earth
Overview: What NASA’s JPL Has Reported NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which maintains the primary catalog of near-Earth objects (NEOs), has reported a close series of flybys by several small asteroids. According to JPL’s NEO database, three objects are currently on trajectories that will bring them past Earth in quick succession. While their sizes are…
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Sneaky asteroid buzzed Earth near Antarctica, unseen for hours
What happened: a tiny rock slips past Earth Last week, a small asteroid surprised astronomers by zipping past Earth closer than most satellites. The object, officially designated 2025 TF, passed over Antarctica at an altitude of about 265 miles (428 kilometers) at 8:47 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 30 (04:47 GMT Wednesday, Oct. 1), according…
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Mir Collision Aftermath: Russian Cosmonauts, Cognac, and the 1997 Crisis
Overview: a near-disaster on Mir On June 25, 1997, the Russian space station Mir faced a crisis that could have ended in catastrophe. An uncrewed Progress M-34 cargo spacecraft collided with Mir during a docking attempt, rupturing the Spektr module’s pressure hull and causing a rapid loss of air. The crew sealed off the damaged…
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Alcohol, danger, and solidarity: How Mir cosmonauts drank after a near-disaster in space
Introduction: a crisis in orbit On June 25, 1997, the Russian space station Mir faced a life-threatening crisis when an uncrewed Progress M-34 cargo vessel collided with the station during a docking attempt. The impact ruptured the Spektr module’s pressure hull, causing a rapid loss of air and forcing the crew to seal off the…
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The Soyuz 11 Tragedy: The Only Humans to Die in Space and the Price of Exploration
Introduction: A Historic Mission Turns to Tragedy The year was 1971, and humanity stood at the edge of a new era in space exploration. The Soviet Union’s Soyuz 11 mission, launched on June 6, carried three cosmonauts to Salyut 1, the world’s first space station. Their goal was ambitious: to conduct extended scientific experiments, test…
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The only humans to die in space: Inside the Soyuz 11 mission
Introduction: A historic mission with a devastating turn In June 1971, the Soviet Union achieved a milestone that had long captivated humanity: the launch of the world’s first space station, Salyut 1. Three cosmonauts—Georgi Dobrovolsky, Viktor Patsayev, and Vladislav Volkov—boarded the Soyuz 11 spacecraft to live and work aboard the station for about three weeks.…
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The Soyuz 11 Tragedy: The Only Humans to Die in Space and a Turning Point in Space Safety
Introduction: A Historic Mission Turns Tragic The Soyuz 11 mission stands as one of the most sobering chapters in the history of human spaceflight. In June 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts—Georgi Dobrovolsky, Viktor Patsayev, and Vladislav Volkov—embarked on a pioneering 23-day mission to Salyut 1, the world’s first space station. Their journey symbolized the promise of…
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What Happens If an Astronaut Dies in Space? A Practical Guide
Overview: The Reality Behind Space Fatalities Spaceflight remains one of humanity’s most hazardous endeavours. Over six decades, 20 people have perished in space-related incidents, underscoring the stark risks of exploration beyond Earth. While the prospect of a death in space is rare, mission planners and astronauts train for it—alongside countless other contingencies—so that safety, dignity,…