Chinese Space Station Hit by Space Debris

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Damage to Solar Panel Prompts Successful Repairs

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) recently announced that the Tiangong space station suffered damage to its solar panels after being struck by space debris. The incident prompted two spacewalks by astronauts from the Shenzhou-17 mission to successfully repair the damage.

Astronauts Complete Spacewalks

According to CMSA's April 24th press conference, the spacewalks were a success. The agency also stated that it plans to enhance its response to space debris to ensure safety in the future.

Source of Debris Unknown

Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, did not specify whether the debris that damaged Tiangong originated from micrometeoroids or human activity. Both types of debris pose threats to Tiangong and the International Space Station (ISS).

Space Debris on the Rise

Human-made space debris is a growing concern. As of April 2024, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks over 43,000 objects in space. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, over 7,500 satellites are currently active in space as of May 2023, with SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellites accounting for the majority.

Strengthening Debris Mitigation

Tiangong has repeatedly adjusted its position to avoid collisions with space debris. CMSA Deputy Director Lin Xiqiang stated that China is enhancing its ability to accurately predict the orbit of the space station and low-orbit debris targets, optimizing space warning and collision avoidance procedures, and reducing false alarms by 30%.

Future Measures

Upcoming measures include monitoring Tiangong with a high-resolution camera mounted on the station's robotic arm and tasking the Shenzhou-18 crew to reinforce the station. During future spacewalks, they will install equipment to enhance the resistance of external pipelines, cables, and key equipment to space debris.

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