Andrey Yelchaninov, the First Vice President of Roscosmos, explained that the damage observed in the instrument and assembly compartments of the Soyuz MS-22 and Progress MS-21 spacecraft did not originate from space debris. He emphasized that the specific impactor remains unidentified, noting that exact details of the hit are not known. His assessment points to a meteoroid as the most plausible culprit, plainly stating that space debris is not the source of the problem.
Yelchaninov added that the incident involving debris near the International Space Station was reviewed separately. Roscosmos maintains ongoing cooperation with NASA in this domain, collaborating on debris tracking and mitigation strategies to safeguard orbital operations. If debris had been detected as a contributor, Roscosmos would have identified the object and executed another ISS avoidance maneuver to preserve the station and its crew and systems.
The Roscosmos official noted that a dedicated commission conducted a thorough production and technological review of the thermal control system for both the crewed spacecraft and the support cargo vehicle. The audit examined the processes and technologies involved, confirming that all steps were properly observed and remain under careful monitoring as part of ongoing quality assurance and risk management practices.
According to the commission’s findings, the depressurization of the outer contour of the cargo vehicle was attributed to an external influence rather than an internal fault. This conclusion reflects a careful assessment of structural integrity and environmental interactions in the harsh conditions of space, reinforcing confidence in the robustness of the system design and its resilience against typical external challenges encountered during launch and operation in low Earth orbit.
Yelchaninov also reported that the spacecraft preparations for upcoming launches underwent a comprehensive verification process. The checks encompassed systems readiness, equipment integrity, and compatibility with mission profiles, with no issues identified that would affect mission safety or performance. This ongoing due diligence underscores Roscosmos’s commitment to rigorous engineering standards and safe, reliable operations for crewed and cargo missions to space facilities, including human-tended platforms orbiting Earth.
Earlier statements indicated the Progress MS-22 cargo ship had been located and assessed following an incident involving the ISS and space debris. The continuous stream of investigations reflects a coordinated effort to understand orbital environment risks, enhance debris tracking capabilities, and implement precautionary measures to minimize any potential impact on future spaceflight activities. The collaboration with international partners remains a cornerstone of these efforts, ensuring that evolving insights inform propulsion, docking procedures, and thermal management strategies for both crewed and uncrewed vehicles as they participate in ongoing space station operations and resupply missions.