2025-08-10T14:06:00Z

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Could you imagine floating in the vastness of space, only to find an uninvited ‘blob’ drifting nearby? That’s precisely what happened to Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub during their recent spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS). The shocking moment led to an urgent command to leave the area—talk about a heart-stopping experience!

Trained to handle extraordinary situations with composure, these astronauts likely felt their hearts race when they encountered the mysterious blob. Thankfully, they returned without incident, and it turns out the blob was nothing sinister but rather coolant leaking from a radiator. However, it was significant enough to contaminate Kononenko’s tether, leading to some unexpected challenges during their mission.

While they quickly isolated the leak to prevent further contamination, the duo managed to gather crucial data for their engineering teams back on Earth. And the good news? Both astronauts emerged from the situation unscathed, with Kononenko even appearing decades younger than his actual age of early 60s. It seems all that time in space is doing wonders for these astronauts!

The ISS, a remarkable hub of international collaboration, is maintained by five space agencies: ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos, CSA, and NASA. Launched in 1998, this remarkable structure is not just a scientific laboratory; it’s traveling at a staggering speed of 27,600 km/h (17,100 mph). At that speed, the station completes a full orbit of Earth every 90 minutes, providing an ever-changing view of our planet below and a constant reminder of the incredible feats of human engineering.