In an unprecedented incident in Earth’s orbit, the Russian space station Mir was struck by an unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft during a manual docking test, marking the first-ever collision between two spacecraft in orbit. The accident occurred on June 21, 2026, presenting a critical emergency for the three-person crew aboard the station.

Following the collision, the crew encountered a rapid decline in cabin air pressure, posing an immediate threat to their safety. Acting swiftly, the astronauts isolated the damaged Spektr module by severing electrical cables and sealing it off from the rest of the station. This action prevented the entire station from depressurizing, preserving the crew’s lives.

Despite successfully containing the threat, the impact caused significant damage to the Spektr module’s solar arrays, which play a crucial role in Mir’s power generation system. As a result, the space station’s overall power supply has been severely compromised, potentially affecting ongoing scientific operations and station maintenance.

Russian space officials have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the docking test failure and to assess the full extent of the damage. The manual docking procedure was intended to test the Progress freight ship’s ability to connect to Mir without automated systems, but this trial instead culminated in the collision that jeopardized the station’s integrity.

While the crew remains unharmed and has stabilized the situation, the incident has raised concerns about orbital safety protocols and the risks associated with increasingly complex spacecraft operations. Recovery and repair efforts are expected to be challenging given the station’s current energy constraints.

This historic collision underscores the growing hazards encountered as space activity intensifies and highlights the need for rigorous safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.