A 12 millimeter hole was found in the damaged Progress MS-21 cargo vessel, a detail confirmed by the State Corporation Roscosmos. The organization disclosed that the hole is located in the radiator section and released an image captured from the International Space Station showing the impact on the ship’s thermal control system.
Initial assessments indicate that external factors likely caused the damage to Progress MS-21. Officials cited photographic evidence that reveals changes to the exterior, including the radiator in the instrument-aggregate compartment and nearby solar panels, as the basis for these findings. Roscosmos noted the incident in an official update and provided the corresponding visual documentation for public review.
Progress MS-21 departed the International Space Station on February 18. The following day, Roscosmos reported that the spacecraft carried fireproof elements and indicated that these elements were later located underwater in the Pacific Ocean as part of the recovery and inspection process.
Russian spaceflight issues at the ISS trace back to late 2022. On December 15, the crew aboard Soyuz MS-22 reported a diagnostic sensor activation and a drop in cooling-system pressure after docking with the station. Subsequently, on February 11, it was revealed that the Progress MS-21’s external contour had become unpressurized, adding to the ongoing concerns about the station’s thermal management and habitat integrity. These developments underscore the vulnerability of critical cooling and power systems in orbit and the ongoing efforts to monitor, assess, and address such anomalies in real time. The information reflects official statements and imagery released by Roscosmos, providing a monitored narrative of the evolving situation for the spaceflight community and the public. (CITATION: Roscosmos)”