--- title: "SpaceX’s Spacecraft Just Had a Near Collision With an Unidentified Object" description: "SpaceX's launch was successful, however the rocket was near collision with an unidentified space object. Learn about this space debris." date: "2021-04-23" modified: "2021-05-05" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/spacex-unidentified-object" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "crew dragon" - "space debris" - "space junk" - "SpaceX" --- # SpaceX’s Spacecraft Just Had a Near Collision With an Unidentified Object ![This morning's SpaceX launch went by without a hitch — but the crew of four did just experience a bit of a scare.]() *\Image: NASA\* Earlier today, SpaceX and NASA [successfully launched]() four astronauts into orbit on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The launch went by without a hitch — but the crew of four did experience a scare while en route to the International Space Station when they were notified of a potential collision with an unidentified object. "The NASA/SpaceX team was informed of the possible conjunction by US Space Command," NASA spokesperson Kelly Humphries told Futurism. "The object being tracked is classified as 'unknown.'" There was no time, Humphries said, to [perform an avoidance maneuver]() to get out of the way of the object. Instead, SpaceX advised that the astronauts put on their pressurized suits in case of a collision. "The possibility of the conjunction came so close to the closest approach time that there wasn’t time to compute and execute a debris avoidance maneuver with confidence, so the SpaceX team elected to have the crew don their pressure suits out of an abundance of caution," Humphries said. US Space Command spokesperson Erin Dick told Futurism that the Pentagon notified NASA of the potential collision at about 1:30pm EST today, about seven hours after the spacecraft launched. "After further analysis, the 18th Space Control Squadron quickly determined there was no conjunction threat, all aboard are safe and the spacecraft was not at risk," Dick said. Numerous questions remain. How big was the piece of space debris? And what was it? In hindsight, Humphries said, the object's closest approach was 45 kilometers from the spacecraft — not far in the grand scale of space, but close enough for concern. Humphries added that "there was no real danger to the crew or the spacecraft." Endeavour is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station tomorrow morning. *Updated with comment from NASA and US Space Command.* **More on the launch:** *[SpaceX Sends Four Astronauts Into Space On Reused Spacecraft]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()