The ISS in space accident.
On the glass window of one of the modules of the international space station (ISS) appeared centimetre pothole. According to the British astronaut Timothy Peak, the culprit of the cracks turned out to be space debris no larger than a speck of dust.
The blow fell on the glass of one of the seven Windows of the observation dome located on the same module of the ISS. Space debris of small size, which was, perhaps, a bit of paint or metal dust, could not break through four layer glass panel. The event itself had no effect on the life and work of astronauts on the station.
To protect the crew from collisions with space debris, the ISS is equipped protivometeoritnoy panels, as well as special systems that enable the station to evade threat of fragments. Objects with a diameter more than half an inch is able to damage vital equipment or to break through the shell. A piece of 10 centimeters can break the ISS to pieces.
According to the ESA, the future of the Agency’s mission will be organized so that the failure of the spacecraft did not lead to explosions, which could increase the number of debris in orbit around the Earth. All satellites and rockets will return to Earth or burn up in the atmosphere after their service life.
Sometimes the risk of debris collision with the ISS becomes so real that the astronauts have to evacuate the station. Last partial evacuation occurred on 16 June 2015.
