Expedition 35 commander Chris Hadfield shared a photo on a social networking site, showing a portion of one of the solar array wings on the ISS with a small but very visible hole made by a passing meteoroid.
Hadfield referred to the object in one of the panel cells as "a small stone from the universe."
"Glad it missed the hull," Hadfield said.
Likened to a bullet hole, whatever struck the solar panel was actually travelling much faster when it hit, 'Universe Today' website reported.
The ISS, luckily, has a multi-layered hull consisting of layers of different materials, providing protection from micrometeorite impacts.
If an object were to hit an inhabited section of the Station, it would be slowed down enough by the different layers to either not make it to the main hull or else merely create an audible "ping.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
