An astronaut about to plunge into space: the accident that changed NASA’s safety protocols (video)

Astronauts perform spacewalks to perform critical missions outside their spacecraft, performing maintenance, repairs, or scientific experiments.

In 2013, a serious incident occurred in the vacuum of space, which highlighted the unpredictability and danger of space exploration efforts. Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano faced a near-fatal accident during a spacewalk when an unprecedented amount of water began filling his helmet.

Astronauts perform spacewalks to perform critical missions outside their spacecraft, performing maintenance, repairs, or scientific experiments. Spacewalking presents enormous challenges, from cosmic radiation to micrometeorites, and requires meticulously designed spacesuits to protect against the unforgiving space environment.

On July 16, Parmitano and fellow NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy began a planned “walk” across the gap. At first, the mission went smoothly until Parmitano reported an alarming anomaly: water was seeping into his helmet. This dire situation put Parmitano in serious danger of sinking into space, a scenario that seems paradoxical but is terrifyingly real.

Miraculously, relying on his training and perception, Parmitano was able to find the airlock.

The cause, determined after the accident, was attributed to particle blockage in the suit’s water separator, a minor defect that could have fatal consequences.