![]() “They (the crew) took additional photographs of the strike and were asked to keep the shutter closed when not in use. “It appears to be contained to the debris pane,” added the status reports. ![]() With this latest strike, the ISS crew were requested to keep the shutter closed when the window was not in use. It was later decided that there would be no impact from the tiny damage sustained. Notably, Window 2 had suffered from a previous MMOD strike, albeit much smaller, resulting in the shutter being closed for evaluation. “The crew confirmed that this is a MMOD strike that has not been previously reported measuring approximately 8 mm in diameter.” “Cupola Window 2 Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) Strike: During the Cygnus viewing activity, the crew noted an MMOD strike on Cupola Window 2 and took images for ground review,” noted L2 ISS Status. It was during another arrival of a Visiting Vehicle – this time with the recent Orbital Cygnus spacecraft (CRS-2/OrB-2) mission – that resulted in astronauts noticing the strike to Window 2. The module has hardly suffered from any issues during its tour of duty with the orbital outpost, with only a minor temperature issue noted ahead of the debut arrival of SpaceX’s Dragon in 2012. A few hours later, all of the windows were opened together, an event that is now commonplace on the ISS. See AlsoĪll of the windows weren’t open at the same time, with the task simply used to check the shutters opened without a problem. The Cupola’s seven windows were exposed to space for the first time during STS-130’s EVA-3, following the removal of the module’s MLI blanket insulation by spacewalkers Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick.Īfter the spacewalkers removed the launch locks on the windows, the ISS crew cycled the window shields/shutters one at a time, providing them with the first view of the Earth from their new observation deck. The module also hosts a Robotic Work Station (RWS), allowing crewmembers to see Visiting Vehicles (VVs) – such as SpaceX’s Dragon – arrive for berthing, complimenting the camera views of their displays, allowing for increased situational awareness when operating the Station’s robotic assets. The European Space Agency (ESA)-built Cupola has provided Station crews with a stunning view of the planet, often shared with the public via downlinked photography, posted to the social media accounts of the astronauts. The Cupola module was lofted to the ISS – along with Node 3 – during Endeavour’s STS-130 mission. The damage held no mission impact and was only noticed once she had returned home and was in post flight processing inside her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) While the option for an immediate return to Earth was discussed, mission managers opted to press on with what was a successful flight.Ītlantis and Endeavour both suffered “bullet hole” impacts to their radiators, with Atlantis’ damage was sustained when she was hit by a tiny piece of circuit board on orbit – likely from a destroyed satellite. The most serious event was during STS-109, when a small piece of debris was lodged in Columbia’s coolant loop 2 and restricted the flow of Freon-22 in that coolant loop. Such strikes were observed on a large amount of Space Shuttle missions, especially late into the mission when the orbiter had undocked from the protection of the ISS and was preparing to head home.Īlthough spacecraft are designed with a level of protection from such impacts, MMOD was the third biggest threat to losing an orbiter during her mission – second only to launch and re-entry.ĭuring the Space Shuttle era, all of the orbiters would receive flesh wounds from MMOD strikes. Impacts from MMOD strikes are usually noticed when they strike areas such as windows of spacecraft. This is in contrast to the larger debris threats that the ISS can dodge via a Debris Avoidance Maneuver (DAM). MMOD strikes are a constant risk to spacecraft on orbit, not least because they are impossible to track and thus avoid. The small, yet visible, damage to the window is not expected to impact on the operation of the Cupola – the Station’s main observation area and one of the star additions to the orbital outpost. A MicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) strike on the Number 2 window of the International Space Station’s Cupola module appears to be contained within the debris pane, following evaluations by teams on the ground.
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