Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday had to seek refuge from space debris by hiding in Russian Soyuz capsules.
“An unknown object of undetermined size got close to the International Space Station,” said the Russian Federal Space Agency, in a statement. “Due to this, the crew was ordered to take their places in the Soyuzes, leaving them to continue their nominal work after the danger was gone.“
Officials said that space junk came within 1,100 feet of the ISS, according to media reports. The debris size was not known but even a small piece could do serious damage to the fragile Station.
Russia’s space agency added that debris collides with the ISS “from time to time.”
Soyuz capsules are used to take crew members to and from the ISS but can also be used as escape pod-like vessels to protect astronauts.
According to the January edition of NASA’s Orbital Debris Quarterly News publication, there are more than 15,000 “total objects,” which are larger than four inches across, floating in Earth’s orbit.
The debris comes mainly from old satellites and rockets that have exploded while they are in orbit.
The ISS currently has three Russians, two Americans, and one Japanese astronaut on board.
