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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Hail of Debris Forces Space Station Evacuation

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(Newser) – Fearing a strike by orbiting space junk, the three astronauts on the International Space Station evacuated to an attached capsule this morning, the Houston Chronicle reports. Though the chance of impact was slight, the debris—a 4-inch piece of an old rocket—could have caused major damage to the station. The astronauts returned safely minutes after the item passed within 3 miles.

An artist's impression of catalogued objects in low-Earth orbit.
An artist's impression of catalogued objects in low-Earth orbit.   (AP Photo)
Damage on the underside of Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Damage on the underside of Space Shuttle Endeavour.   (AP Photo)
An Expedition 18 member participates in a spacewalk to perform maintenance on the International Space Station.
An Expedition 18 member participates in a spacewalk to perform maintenance on the International Space Station.   (AP Photo)
The Russian segment of the International Space Station.
The Russian segment of the International Space Station.   (AP Photo)
A Russian-made Proton-U rocket booster with cargo bound for the ISS.
A Russian-made Proton-U rocket booster with cargo bound for the ISS.   (AP Photo)
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5 comments
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TerrifiedCitizen
Mar 12, 09 1:49 PM CDT
Can you imagine the poor guy back in the 60's who said "we of course need to be responsible and make a safe debris disposition strategy for the tons of potentially dangerous matter we're sending into the atmosphere"? After he was fired, his wife left him... Reply
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radnip
Mar 12, 09 3:41 PM CDT
And so we learn humans do not want reason and thought.
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Robert_Dada
Mar 12, 09 2:02 PM CDT
No matter where man goes, he ruins it. The best that can happen to the universe is that we never leave this planet and go extinct. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
radnip
Mar 12, 09 3:42 PM CDT
We can fix ourselves with a different point of view: as caretakers and guardians, instead of as conquerors. Unfortunately, we're still in the conquest frame of mind.
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riffran
Mar 13, 09 2:37 AM CDT
ahhhh but imagine it as the next job market, the orbital version of a street sweeper....hmmm...really big nets made out of spectra...lol.....or maybe a magneto/plasma envelope capable of grabbing the debris....and bringing it in safely....a tractor beam...a.....ect. ect...engage!..lol Reply
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