A NASA drill broadcast in error caused a stir, leading the space agency to deny the existence of an emergency. NASA clarified a few hours later that it was only a simulation and not a real danger situation.
At 22:28 UTC last June 12, an audio was mistakenly broadcast on NASA’s live feed. This audio, coming from a shore-based simulation channel, indicated that a crew member was suffering from the effects of decompression sickness (DCS). NASA, through its X account, explained that the audio was part of training and was not related to an actual emergency in space. in space. .
Audio of NASA’s simulation in the ISS
The simulation audio, which was broadcast for approximately 8 minutes on the live channels of the International Space Station (ISS), showed a flight surgeon offering advice on how to treat an astronaut with decompression symptoms.
The specialist recommended that the ISS crew put the astronaut back in his spacesuit and provide him with pure oxygen. In addition, he mentioned a hospital in San Fernando, Cadiz, Spain, as the site for emergency hypobaric treatment after return to Earth.
In the audio, the flight surgeon, who remained anonymous, mentioned that the prognosis for the affected commander was limited. He added that he was an hour away from Mission Control and stuck in a traffic jam, which was part of the simulation scenario.
Potential risk of decompression
The decompression sickness is a real threat to astronauts because of their pressurized environment in space. During spacewalks, astronauts must depressurize the airlock before leaving and re-pressurize it upon return, then remove their spacesuits. This routine is essential to avoid DCS, as Space.com reports.
NASA stressed that no part of the drill was real and that the current ISS crew did not participate in the exercise. The crew, consisting of 3 Russian cosmonauts and 6 NASA astronauts, was not even awake at the time of the drill.
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Source: eldebate
Photo: Shutterstock
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