In 2022, Maxim Penkov, who heads JSC TsNIIMash as Director General, noted that the automatic warning system for dangerous situations in near-Earth space, known as ASPOS OKP, registered more than 16,000 close encounters with hazardous objects within the orbital corridor between the International Space Station and Russia’s spacecraft. This figure highlights the ongoing risks that accompany sustained human presence in low Earth orbit and the continuous need for vigilant tracking, rapid response, and robust protective measures to safeguard assets and crew. The record underscores how automation and real-time data fusion play a crucial role in modern space operations, enabling timely maneuvers and risk mitigation across a bustling space environment.
Penkov also observed that the ISS has executed five separate debris-avoidance maneuvers. Each maneuver required precise planning, quick decision-making, and seamless coordination among international teams to adjust the station’s trajectory without compromising mission objectives. Such actions not only protect the space platform from potential damage but also preserve the health and safety of the crew aboard, maintaining operational continuity and the integrity of ongoing research in microgravity conditions. The ability to anticipate debris threats and respond decisively remains a cornerstone of long-term human exploration in near-Earth orbit.
Earlier reports by TASS indicated that Russian crew members aboard the ISS began experimenting with a probiotic derived from dried matter. The initiative reflects an interest in countermeasures that can support crew health during extended stays in space, where conventional Earth-based supply chains and environmental controls differ from those on the ground. The effort aligns with broader efforts to understand how spaceflight affects physiological systems and to identify nutritional or microbiological strategies that can help sustain well-being during missions that span months or longer.
Living in orbit presents a range of health challenges. Muscles tend to lose mass when not used as vigorously as on Earth, bones can lose calcium, and body fluids shift in ways that affect cardiovascular and metabolic function. The shape of the eyeball may undergo subtle changes, and metabolic processes can become dysregulated under the influence of microgravity. In this context, researchers and medical teams explore interventions that support physical resilience, including targeted exercise regimens, nutritional optimization, and microbiome-focused approaches. The pursuit of probiotics in space is part of a broader strategy to maintain homeostasis in a closed, constrained environment where crew health is directly linked to mission success. These investigations contribute to a growing understanding of how to keep astronauts healthy and productive as humanity expands its presence beyond our planet, while also informing health practices that might benefit people on Earth who face similar risks related to long-term immobility, altered metabolism, or changes in gut microbiota.