Photo: Twitter / Chris B / @NASASpaceflight
The small hole that caused minor reason for concern at the end of August onboard the International Space Station (ISS) may not have been produced by natural causes, hints Dmitry Rogozin, head of Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The investigation into what caused the hole seems to point to it being drilled into the upper section of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft attached to the ISS.
Initially, Russian and American engineers believed the cause of the leak was a hole created by a possible impact with a micro-meteorite or a piece of space debris. Rogozin begs to differ, saying for Russian news agency RIA the hole is the result of “some kind of technological error of some specialist."
According to the Russian official, the hole shows clear signs of drilling, including scratching here and there. More importantly, he also hints at the fact that the hole was made from the inside, possibly on purpose, although it is unclear whether it was made on Earth or in space.
"The Earth version is being checked, but there is another version that we do not dismiss: deliberate interference in space. There are several attempts to influence the drill," the official said.
"The version of the meteorite has already been swept away, but there was an obvious impact on the shelling of the ship from the inside.”
Sabotage? Incompetence? We’ll know soon enough, as the Russian’s are on it and promise a quick answer.
A photo allegedly showing the hole before being filled with epoxy surfaced on a NASA Twitter account and was then apparently deleted, not before being snatched by others. If the photo is real, the hole sure does seem as it was made on purpose with a drill.
The oxygen leak was discovered by Russian and American Earth-based control centers on August 30. It was not deemed life-threatening.
The Soyuz MS-09 will not be used to bring back astronauts from the ISS so any other damages to the spacecraft will not be endangering their lives.
Initially, Russian and American engineers believed the cause of the leak was a hole created by a possible impact with a micro-meteorite or a piece of space debris. Rogozin begs to differ, saying for Russian news agency RIA the hole is the result of “some kind of technological error of some specialist."
According to the Russian official, the hole shows clear signs of drilling, including scratching here and there. More importantly, he also hints at the fact that the hole was made from the inside, possibly on purpose, although it is unclear whether it was made on Earth or in space.
"The Earth version is being checked, but there is another version that we do not dismiss: deliberate interference in space. There are several attempts to influence the drill," the official said.
"The version of the meteorite has already been swept away, but there was an obvious impact on the shelling of the ship from the inside.”
Sabotage? Incompetence? We’ll know soon enough, as the Russian’s are on it and promise a quick answer.
A photo allegedly showing the hole before being filled with epoxy surfaced on a NASA Twitter account and was then apparently deleted, not before being snatched by others. If the photo is real, the hole sure does seem as it was made on purpose with a drill.
The oxygen leak was discovered by Russian and American Earth-based control centers on August 30. It was not deemed life-threatening.
The Soyuz MS-09 will not be used to bring back astronauts from the ISS so any other damages to the spacecraft will not be endangering their lives.
ISS Leak summary:
— Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 3 septembrie 2018
First thought was MMOD strike.
Then NASA released pics. Lots of people: "Hmmm, doesn't look like MMOD". NASA deleted the photos.
Top Russian news site RIA NOVOSTI reported - via sources but apparently confirmed by Mr. Rogozin - it was a drill hole. pic.twitter.com/520kHK0TMc
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