“How much oxygen is left?” »: An alarming message from the International Space Station sends the Internet into a state of panic. Fortunately it was just an exercise.
GVTech News “How much oxygen is left?” »: An alarming message from the International Space Station sends the Internet into a state of panic. Fortunately it was just an exercise.
This message spread on the Internet and caused a wave of panic. However, NASA quickly put the controversy to rest: it was just an exercise.
International Space Station emergency exercises: larger than life
On June 12, an incident attracted the attention of all netizens. An audio recording was made from a medical emergency simulation exercise It was mistakenly broadcast on NASA's official live broadcast channels.
The exercise simulates a problem in which a captain suffers from decompression sickness. This recording, which lasted about eight minutes, quickly spread. Which indicates that there is a real crisis on board the International Space Station.
In the audio simulation clip, a flight surgeon gives advice on what to do after being diagnosed with decompression sickness. In particular, he suggested putting the astronaut back in his suit and giving him pure oxygen.
The recording also indicated an emergency evacuation to a hospital in Spain after the water hit. The words sounded so real that the first reactions on social networks were quick.
NASA quickly clarified the situation via a statement on the X website, saying that there was no real emergency on board the International Space Station. They said the audio came from a simulation channel used for training on the ground and for teams on board.
There is no emergency on board the International Space Station. At approximately 5:28 PM CDT, audio was broadcast on NASA's live feed from a simulated audio channel on Earth indicating that a crew member was experiencing decompression-related effects…
– International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 13, 2024
The current crew, which consists of six astronauts of different nationalities and three Russian astronauts, did not participate in this exercise at any time. During the alleged incident, they were all asleep in preparation for today's planned spacewalk.
This event highlighted the importance of simulation training to ensure safety aboard the International Space Station, especially with the increasing participation of private companies in space missions.
The International Space Station: the space meeting place for all scientific intellectuals
The International Space Station (ISS) is now open to the public. In January 2024, it welcomed an entirely civilian crew for the first time. Recently, Boeing's Starliner capsule also docked with the station, marking a milestone in the era of space missions involving private companies.
In this context, the safety of people on board has become more important than ever. Teams on Earth and aboard the International Space Station regularly train for various emergency scenarios to be prepared for any eventuality.
Coordination between teams on the ground and on board is essential to prevent and manage emergencies. The accidental release of audio also highlighted the need to maintain strict protocols to avoid such mistakes in the future.
As civilian crew participation becomes more common, NASA and its partners must redouble their efforts to ensure safety and transparency. Private space missions represent a promising future, but they also require greater vigilance to avoid any misunderstandings that could spark panic among the public.