Newly released audio reveals the quick scramble the Expedition 66 team undertook to get to security following an anti-satellite test on Monday (Nov. 15). A Russian impactor was intentionally smashed into a defunct Soviet satellite, Cosmos 1408, causing a cloud of particles that came suddenly near the International Space Station early that morning.The audio includes a discussion in between NASA astronaut and flight engineer Mark Vande Hei, who is on his second long-lasting period flight in space.”Sorry for the early call,” the unnamed ground controller states; it probably was a fellow astronaut, as capcoms (capsule communicators) are usually tasked with such duties. “We were just recently notified of a satellite separation,” the controller continues, “and need to have you begin examining the safe house procedure.”Related: Space particles from Russian anti-satellite missile test spotted in telescope images and videoThe Expedition 66 crew presents for a portrait at the International Space Station, on Nov. 12, 2021. From left: Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos; Thomas Marshburn of NASA; Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos; Raja Chari, Mark Vande Hei and Kayla Barron, all from NASA; and Matthias Maurer from ESA. (Image credit: NASA)Within seconds, Vande Hei calmly returns the call and repeats back the guidelines that ground control gives, to confirm the instructions and make certain that he heard them correctly. (This is standard procedure amongst astronauts and Mission Control throughout emergencies, to ensure guidelines are comprehended.)The audio shows that the team was asked to execute “safe house treatments,” including transferring to their return spacecraft and closing hatches to radial modules on the station. These hatches included Columbus, Kibo, the Permanent Multipurpose Module (aka Nauka), Bigelow Expandable Activity Module and Quest Joint Airlock, NASA said in a statement.Later in the audio, the crew is recommended on what to do if a piece of debris strikes the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which is the return craft for four of the 7 crewmembers. Mission Control advises that if the spacecraft is struck, to return first to the ISS to await additional directions, which Vande Hei confirms.The team nestled twice during the Monday morning occasion, which was later condemned by both the U.S. State Department and NASA administrator Bill Nelson, who said there will be a considerable additional threat to expedition in low Earth orbit. Both Roscosmos and the Russian federal government, conversely, have denied that the occurrence positioned threat to the ISS.Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
