Space can be a dangerous place, or at least that’s what TV tells us. Many horrors have befallen brave souls blasting off to the final frontier but blockbuster movies and liberally dramatised telly remain the prominent source for space danger.
So for all the heart-stopping drama and action-packed scenes of astronauts dodging flying space debris, how much actually talks to reality?
“Radiation is one of the greatest threats,” Sylvester Kaczmarek, associate professor at Kepler Space University and former NASA man tells The Daily Star . “Without Earth’s atmosphere to protect us, astronauts are exposed to harmful cosmic rays and solar radiation, which can cause long-term health problems like cancer or acute radiation sickness.
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“Extreme temperatures are also dangerous, with spaceships and suits needing to withstand freezing cold and blistering heat. There’s also the ever-present risk of equipment failure, especially in the vacuum of space, where small issues can quickly escalate into life-threatening problems.”
(Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)
Another common scene in blockbusters is the seemingly relentless threat of flying space debris, a legacy of humanity’s past efforts to learn more about space – one that, according to Kaczmarek, does genuinely pose a real risk for people in space. “While Hollywood loves to show asteroid showers as apocalyptic, the reality is less dramatic.
“Most space debris or asteroids that enter Earth’s atmosphere burn up due to friction, becoming harmless shooting stars. However, in space, even small particles can cause significant damage to spacecraft because of the high speeds involved.”
(Image: OrbiSky Systems)
Rich Cooper, VP at the Space Foundation agreed. He told The Daily Star : “This is a huge and very costly issue that the entire global space community is dealing with today. Today, there are more than 90 countries with space activities and hundreds of companies putting up satellites, space stations and other spacecraft into orbit as well as deeper space. That’s a lot of activity with launches and objects flying around, and with so many players wanting and achieving space access, it creates lots of traffic — along with lots of debris to navigate.
“Significant amounts of debris come from old launch vehicles, dead or dormant satellites, or even satellites that have been purposefully destroyed by countries with missile strikes, thereby creating more orbital shrapnel that only adds to the risks.
“A strike by any of those objects to another satellite, space station, spacecraft or spacewalker would be catastrophic in terms of their operations and any human lives in its path. Additionally, any type of significant-sized orbital debris that does not burn up in Earth’s atmosphere poses a threat to life on the ground. Whether by the speed and size of the debris that hits the Earth or exposure to any remaining propellant in the structures that ‘land,’ this type of man-made debris is growing.”
And what about the sci-fi favourite, the spacewalk? Are these really as dangerous and terrifying as the movies make them look?
(Image: Getty Images)
“Spacewalkers have to be prepared to respond to any mishap with their spacesuits because any type of leak or pressure change has the potential to be fatal,” Cooper explained. “Depending on what and where it is, an astronaut with a pressure leak in their suit has mere seconds to respond.”
Cooper continued: “That is why the spacesuits used on the International Space Station have multiple layers to protect spacewalking astronauts, along with sensors to keep watch on all of its operations. Additionally, whenever spacewalks occur on the ISS, they often go out in pairs. That’s not only to work together on the orbital structure or conduct an experiment, but also if one of them needs help, the other astronaut can assist them.
“And there have been problems with spacesuits during spacewalks. In fact, on an ISS spacewalk in 2013, there was a water leak inside a spacesuit that put the spacewalking astronaut at risk.
“Fortunately, with the assistance of his spacewalking partner, he was able to get back into the space station and get out of the spacesuit in time. An ISS spacewalk was recently cancelled because of a fluid leak discovered in a spacesuit prior to exiting the space station. This is where preparation, training and equipment vigilance protects and saves lives.”
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