space debris

The International Space Station had to swerve to avoid Russian space debris

June 21st, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

The International Space Station had to change its orbit slightly to avoid Russian space debris on June 16, 2022. The debris was created by a Russian anti-satellite test in 2021, and it would have come within half a mile of the station.

Science

Fireballs spotted above Chile defy explanation

October 5th, 2019

Mike Wehner

When we Earthlings spot something tearing through the sky in a blaze of glory, there’s almost always a totally reasonable explanation. More often than not, tiny chunks of space rock are the culprit, and when they slam into Earth’s atmosphere the friction is enough to set them ablaze. A recent fireball sighting in Chile is …