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NASA has accidentally broadcast a simulation of astronauts being treated for decompression sickness on the International Space Station (ISS).
The background: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s live YouTube channel broadcast audio indicating a crew member was experiencing the effects of decompression sickness.
A female voice asks crew members to “get commander back in his suit”, check his pulse and provide him with oxygen, later saying his prognosis was “tenuous”, according to copies of the audio posted on social media. NASA did not verify the recordings or republish the audio.
Several space enthusiasts posted a link to the audio on social media platform X with warnings that the ISS had a serious emergency.
The key quote: “This audio was inadvertently misrouted from an ongoing simulation where crew members and ground teams train for various scenarios in space and is not related to a real emergency.” — NASA’s official ISS X account.
What else to know: Decompression sickness, caused by nitrogen or other gas bubbles in the bloodstream due to a change in atmospheric pressure, can affect the central nervous system and is potentially fatal. It is commonly known as “the bends”.
Crew members on the ISS were in their sleep period at the time of the audio broadcast.
What happens next: ISS crew members are due to conduct a spacewalk at 10pm (AEST) on Thursday.