Key Takeaways
- On 19 November 2024, the ISS performed a Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) using Progress 89 thrusters to raise the station’s orbit; the burn lasted 5 minutes, 31 seconds (NASA).
- PDAMs are routine: past examples include a 5 minute, 5 second burn in October 2022 to avoid Cosmos 1408 fragments; the station has executed dozens of such moves over recent years.
- What remains unresolved: the specific origin of the viral ‘astronauts were mind-blown’ clip and what, if anything, the caption ‘next week may be even crazier’ was referring to — no institutional release ties that language to the Nov. 19 PDAM.
Night Shift Above the Blue Planet
Picture the ISS Cupola, that domed window to the stars, where the crew gathers to watch the world spin below. Auroras dance like silent fires, lightning storms flash across continents, and satellites streak by in the blackness. A few days ago, around 19 November 2024, something shifted up there—a quiet alarm, perhaps, signaling the need for action.
The station hums with routine. Ground teams coordinate every move, but from inside, a thruster burn can feel like the edge of chaos. Crew safety hangs in the balance, and public eyes follow, drawn to the drama of humans adrift in orbit.
What Witnesses and Community Threads Say
Across social media and forums, reports swirl. Captions claim “astronauts were mind-blown aboard the ISS a few days ago! Next week may be even crazier.” These seem to stem from user posts, not official sources.
Community threads blend short clips of astronauts reacting—to auroras, lightning, or bright satellite passes—with details from real events like PDAMs, spacewalks, or cargo arrivals. This mixing builds a narrative of high stakes and wonder.
No verified NASA feed uses that “mind-blown” phrasing for a recent event. Tracing these back, the wording often starts on social platforms, shared among those tracking orbital oddities.
Timelines, Tracks, and Hard Data
The facts anchor us. The latest PDAM hit on 19 November 2024, per NASA’s space station blog. Progress 89 thrusters fired for 5 minutes, 31 seconds to dodge potential debris.
Compare that to October 2022: a 5 minute, 5 second burn sidestepped fragments from Cosmos 1408. Trackable debris in low Earth orbit? Over 19,000 pieces, according to tracking agencies.
Without the November maneuver, the closest approach might have been around 2–3 miles— a ballistic estimate that prompts these actions. ISS has logged dozens of PDAMs, with counts rising: about 32 by December 2022, climbing to 37 by October 2023.
| Date | Maneuver (PDAM) | Vehicle/Thrusters | Burn Duration | Estimated Miss Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 November 2024 | Debris Avoidance | Progress 89 | 5 minutes, 31 seconds | ~2–3 miles | NASA |
| October 2022 | Avoid Cosmos 1408 fragments | Not specified | 5 minutes, 5 seconds | Not specified | NASA |
Official Statements and Other Plausible Readings
NASA and ISS partners frame PDAMs as standard safety protocols. They track potential collisions, publish notices, and report details like dates, burn times, and miss distances.
Outlets like NPR, USA Today, CNN, and ExtremeTech covered the November event, highlighting it as part of the escalating debris issue in orbit, not an isolated scare.
Official materials stick to technical facts, skipping emotional flair. Community captions add that layer, possibly reframing neutral footage. Could the astonishment stem from something else—a vivid aurora, a re-entry flare, or an unexpected sight?
Without a verified link between the “mind-blown” clip and the PDAM, we hold both views. Witnesses describe real reactions; agencies emphasize routine. The tension lies there, in what gets seen versus what gets said.
What It All Might Mean
We know a routine PDAM went down on 19 November 2024, with a 5:31 burn to steer clear of tracked debris. These maneuvers keep the station safe amid growing orbital clutter.
Still open: where did that viral “mind-blown” clip come from, and what does “next week may be even crazier” point to? No official tie binds those words to the PDAM.
This matters because blended stories—hard maneuvers and sensational clips—shape how we see space risks. Public trust hinges on sorting fact from frenzy. Next: track the viral post’s origin, cross-check timestamps with mission logs, and scan upcoming events for clues.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ISS performed a Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) using Progress 89 thrusters, lasting 5 minutes and 31 seconds, to raise its orbit and avoid potential debris. This was a routine safety action, with an estimated miss distance of about 2–3 miles without the burn.
The phrasing appears in viral social media captions and community threads, often paired with short clips of astronaut reactions to phenomena like auroras or satellite passes. No official NASA source ties this language directly to the November PDAM.
Yes, they’re routine. The ISS has executed dozens over the years, such as a similar burn in October 2022 to avoid Cosmos 1408 fragments. The number has increased with rising debris in low Earth orbit, now tracking over 19,000 pieces.
It’s unresolved, as the caption stems from social posts without clear ties to official events. It might hint at upcoming scheduled activities like spacewalks or cargo arrivals, or it could be speculative hype in community narratives.
Agencies like NASA focus on technical details and frame PDAMs as standard protocols amid debris risks. Community threads add emotional elements, like ‘mind-blown’ reactions, possibly blending unrelated clips with real events to build dramatic stories.
