Nasa accidentally broadcasts simulation of distressed astronauts on space station
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The broadcast prompted speculation of an emergency onboard the International Space Station in posts on social media.
PHOTO: MAXAR/REUTERS
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SINGAPORE - Nasa accidentally broadcast a simulation of astronauts being treated for decompression sickness on the International Space Station (ISS) on June 12, prompting speculation of an emergency in posts on social media.
About 5.28pm, Nasa’s YouTube live-stream broadcast audio that indicated a crew member was experiencing the effects of decompression sickness (DCS), Nasa said on its official ISS account on social media platform X.
A female voice asks crew members to “get commander back in his suit”, check his pulse and provide him with oxygen, later saying his prognosis was “tenuous”, according to copies of the audio posted on social media. Nasa did not verify the recordings or republish the audio.
Several space enthusiasts posted a link to the audio on X with warnings that there was a serious emergency on the ISS.
“This audio was inadvertently misrouted from an ongoing simulation where crew members and ground teams train for various scenarios in space and is not related to a real emergency,” the ISS account post said.
“There is no emergency situation going on aboard the ISS,” it added.
DCS, which is caused by nitrogen or other gas bubbles in the bloodstream due to a change in atmospheric pressure, can affect the central nervous system and is potentially fatal. It is commonly known as “the bends”.
Crew members on the ISS were in their sleep period at the time of the audio broadcast ahead of a spacewalk on June 13, the ISS post said.
Nasa’s YouTube live-stream now shows an error message saying the feed has been interrupted. REUTERS
