Russia shoots down satellite, debris forces ISS astronauts to shelter in capsules

On November 15th, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites, creating 1500 pieces of trackable orbital debris. This incident forced the ISS crew, including three Russian cosmonauts, to take shelter in capsules for safety. The debris cloud from Cosmos 1408 passes the ISS every 90 minutes, but further sheltering is not needed beyond the second and third passes. Space debris is a growing issue, with over a million objects in orbit, many moving at speeds over 17,000 mph. Russia is not the first to conduct such tests; India, China, and the US have done so previously.

What was the immediate consequence of Russia destroying its own satellite?

• Launch of a new satellite

• Creation of 1500 pieces of trackable debris

• International space treaty violation

• Discovery of a new planet

How did the astronauts on the ISS respond to the satellite destruction?

• They took shelter in capsules

• They continued their normal activities

• They contacted the Russian government

• They evacuated the ISS

What was the frequency of the ISS passing through the debris cloud?

• Every 2 hours

• Every 30 minutes

• Every 24 hours

• Every 90 minutes

Which countries, besides Russia, have previously destroyed satellites?

• Brazil, Canada, and Australia

• India, China, and the US

• South Korea, Italy, and Spain

• Germany, France, and Japan

What is a significant concern regarding space debris?

• It is moving at over 17,000 mph

• It is causing global warming

• It is blocking sunlight

• It is creating new stars