A remarkable error occurred during the ISS’s exercise where a test emergency turned out to be live for a while, which reminded viewers of concerns on the space station. To this, NASA was quick to sweating the situation and insisting that all the crew members on the International Space Station were very much alive and kicking.
Key Events:
- June 12, 2024, 6:28 p.m. ET: An audio clip from a training simulation was accidentally broadcasted on NASA’s livestream. The simulation indicated that one of the nine astronauts on the ISS was experiencing decompression sickness. This triggered immediate alarm among the audience.
- NASA Clarification: NASA quickly addressed the issue via a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating that the audio was misrouted from a simulation exercise and that there was no real emergency on the ISS. The post confirmed that all crew members were safe and there was no actual threat to their safety.
Crew Status:
The Expedition 71 crew and Starliner crew members Cmdr. Barry “Butch” Wilmore and pilot Sunita “Suni” Williams were in their sleep period during the broadcasted audio.
Despite the confusion, NASA confirmed that all astronauts were preparing for a scheduled spacewalk on June 13, 2024.
Spacewalk Postponement:
- Early June 13, 2024: NASA announced the cancellation of the planned spacewalk involving astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick due to a "suit discomfort issue." This added to the concerns stemming from the previous day’s incident.
Boeing Starliner Concerns: - Helium Leaks: NASA reported that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft had five small leaks in its service module helium manifolds. However, engineers assured that the helium supply was sufficient to support the spacecraft’s return trip to Earth.
- Safety Margins: According to NASA, the Starliner requires seven hours’ worth of helium for undocking and returning to Earth, while the current supply can last up to 70 hours, providing a comfortable safety margin.
NASA’s Statement:
“This audio was inadvertently misrouted from an ongoing simulation where crew members and ground teams training for various scenarios in space and is not related to a real emergency,” stated NASA officials on social media.
NASA reiterated their commitment to the safety of all astronauts and the integrity of their operations.