June 13th 2024.
People all over the world have their own unique interests and hobbies, and for some, that includes tuning in to NASA's livestream from the International Space Station. However, last night, those who were listening got quite a shock when they heard what sounded like an astronaut in distress over the radio.
It was just before 10:30pm on Wednesday when the live YouTube channel broadcast audio that suggested a crew member was experiencing decompression sickness. The female voice on the recording could be heard asking for help in getting the commander back into his suit, checking his pulse, and providing him with oxygen. The situation seemed dire, with the voice stating that his prognosis was "tenuous".
The audio quickly made its way onto social media, with many space enthusiasts sharing it and expressing their concerns for the astronauts on board the ISS. This all occurred as the crew was preparing for a spacewalk, adding to the tension and worry.
However, NASA was quick to clarify that the audio was actually from an ongoing simulation where crew members and ground teams train for various scenarios in space. There was no real emergency happening on the ISS. The agency also did not verify the recordings or republish the audio.
Decompression sickness, also known as "the bends", can be caused by a change in atmospheric pressure and can have serious effects on the central nervous system. It is a potentially fatal condition that is commonly experienced by divers when they surface too quickly. The crew members on the ISS were in their sleep period at the time of the audio broadcast, as they were preparing for a spacewalk the next day.
While the situation was quickly clarified by NASA, many fans of the ISS on Earth were still shaken by the ordeal. Some, like space security analyst Dr. Malcolm Davis, shared updates on social media, while others, like space scientist Heather Smith, expressed their worry and support for the crew.
Thankfully, everything turned out to be okay and the crew was safe and sound. However, the incident served as a reminder of the potential dangers of living and working in space. US correspondent for The Times, Jacqui Goddard, summed up the intense hour of confusion and concern with a tweet stating, "That was one horrible hour. NASA accidentally made the private #ISS radio feed public in the midst of a simulated emergency in which an astronaut was said to be sick/dead in a depressurization episode. Hoping the radio feed's the only switch they flick by mistake up there. Sheesh."
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