Mini-satellites spontaneously launch themselves from the International Space Station

(A previous mini-satellite launch from the NanoRack CubeSat deployer – Photo Credit: NASA)

Two shoebox-sized Earth imaging satellites have mysteriously launched themselves from the International Space Station.

While storing blood samples in one of the station’s freezers, Commander Steve Swanson noticed that the doors on NanoRack’s Cubesat deployer were open, and the mini-satellites were nowhere to be found.

“No crew members or ground controllers saw the deployment. They reviewed all the camera footage and there was no views of it there either” said NASA mission commentator Pat Ryan.

Flight controllers at the Johnson Space Centre have determined that the two CubeSats must have inadvertently deployed themselves. But this isn’t the first time that the launcher has misbehaved.

A NASA status report shows that two more mini-satellites were released accidentally on August 23rd.

Flight control teams are now assessing whether to bring the satellite launcher back inside the station or to try to release the remaining CubeSats still awaiting launch.

You can read more about the CubeSats here.