After a Russian module misfires, International Space Station temporarily loses control

Nauka, a long-delayed Russian space agency Roscosmos’ laboratory module, accidentally fired its thrusters during Thursday’s docking with the International Space Station. The space station lost its attitude control (the angle at the ISS is supposed remain oriented) for almost an hour and ground controllers lost communication with the seven astronauts aboard the ISS for about 11 minutes.

NASA and Roscosmos are currently conducting a joint investigation. Joel Montalbano is the head of NASA’s International Space Station Program. He insists that the astronauts were not in danger and that there has been no damage to the ISS. NASA’s Mission Control in Houston (Texas) asked the astronauts to look out the windows of the space station for any debris or damage. NASA chief warns Russia could leave ISS, sparking a space race. The incident also delayed the launch date of the Boeing Starliner uncrewed test flight from the station, which was scheduled to launch Friday.

NASA claims the move gives the International Space Station team enough time to continue working on the checkouts of the Roscosmos’ Nauka Module and to ensure that the station is ready for Starliner’s arrival. “Spaceflight can be difficult, and we sometimes have to introduce new capabilities, which is why preparation and training for these contingencies is important,” Kathy Lueders (associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate) said. NASA officials quickly downplayed the severity of the incident and described it as a “pretty thrilling hour” and “dynamic event.” “Until you exhaust all of your contingency plans that’s when it’s time to worry, that’s where you start worrying and today we just weren’t there,” said Montalbano. He described the incident as a “pretty exciting hour” and a “dynamic event.” Garver, who was the former deputy administrator of NASA under the Obama administration, described it as a reminder of the uncontrolled risk posed by our inability to understand the capabilities of our Russian partners. If they had not experienced the problems with this module, I don’t think we would have allowed them to dock with (the station).