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Space & Astronomy

Hole in Soyuz was 'drilled from the inside'

By T.K. Randall
December 26, 2018 · Comment icon 19 comments

Who was responsible for drilling the hole and why ? Image Credit: NASA
One of the cosmonauts who investigated the hole maintains that it was drilled from inside the capsule.
When a reduction in cabin pressure led to the discovery of a small leak in the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station back in September, it was initially assumed that a micrometeorite impact was to blame.

A later investigation however revealed that the hole had seemingly been created by a drill, opening up the very real possibility that someone had gone about creating it on purpose.
Earlier this month, two Russian cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk outside the station in an effort to shed new light on the mystery (see video below). During their excursion, Oleg Kononenko used a knife to cut through the exterior insulation so that samples from around the hole could be taken.

Now one of the two men - Sergei Prokopyev - has revealed that the hole was likely created from the inside and that Russian authorities are now carrying out a detailed investigation in to the incident.

During a press conference, he said that it will up to the investigators to determine what happened.



Source: Tech Times | Comments (19)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #10 Posted by paperdyer 6 years ago
OK, I'm still a bit fuzzy.  Was the space craft that docked with the station Russian, American or from the EU?  I guess there aren't any drills on the space station that could make the hole or why would the Russians immediately blame someone on the ground.  I know they have to eliminate/investigate all possible sources and the ground is easier to do than sending up people to the station.  I also find it interesting that the Russians only have two people in the station right now with NASA having 3.  They way this is going, it may turn into a he said/she said situation unless the perpetrato... [More]
Comment icon #11 Posted by Merc14 6 years ago
It is a Russian Soyuz capsule that is, more or less, "permanently" (they do get swapped out) docked with the station to act as a lifeboat.   The section with the hole will ot reenter the atmosphere, it is jettisoned before reaching the atmosphere that matters.
Comment icon #12 Posted by Varelse 6 years ago
Everyone working on these ships is pulled from the very best in their field. It's an intellectual, somewhat multi-national group. I have a hard time believing any of them would/could do this as a mistake too.  These construction hangers are under heavy surveillance . All logistics, work and inspections get carefully logged down to each bolt. I'm sure everyone who had access is being put on a list. Video is being scoured over. They narrow people down based on when it wasn't and was present until a few unusual suspects remain...
Comment icon #13 Posted by Mystify 6 years ago
Why would anyone WANT to sabotage their own life vessel?
Comment icon #14 Posted by Varelse 6 years ago
It could have happened before takeoff. I think that's at least what Russia is investigating right now.  
Comment icon #15 Posted by Eldorado 5 years ago
A Russian cosmonaut who explored a mysterious hole in a capsule docked to the International Space Station says Russian law enforcement agencies are investigating what caused the opening. Sergei Prokopyev said Monday that investigators were looking at samples he and crewmate Oleg Kononenko collected during a Dec. 12 spacewalk. Prokopyev and two other astronauts returned to Earth last week after 197-day space station mission. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-6527177/Russian-law-enforcement-investigate-Intl-Space-Station-hole.html
Comment icon #16 Posted by Timothy 5 years ago
And Russia has tried oh so hard to clear their name.
Comment icon #17 Posted by qxcontinuum 5 years ago
I've just heard that Russian astronauts are allowed to carry weapons...
Comment icon #18 Posted by Uber Doubter 5 years ago
Scuff marks on the inside - most definitely drilled from the inside. What are the nationalities of the people onboard? This is like an Agatha Cristie murder mystery - fortunately what seems to be a foiled plot so far.
Comment icon #19 Posted by toast 5 years ago
1.) What exactly should that mean? 2.) There are guns on the ISS1 and they are accessible for all ISS crew members. The guns are part of the survival package thats been used in case of emergency landings in remote areas, to protect the astronauts from predators and for the reason of hunting. No need for any kind of CT here.


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