The International Space Station recently conducted an evasive maneuver to avoid a piece of space junk, which was debris from a defunct meteorological satellite. The Russian cargo ship docked at the station fired its thrusters for over five minutes to provide a safer distance for the incoming object. While the debris was not on a collision course with the station, the maneuver was done as a precaution. Space junk, including retired satellites and rocket boosters, poses a growing problem in Earth’s orbit and can endanger space missions and astronauts on the space station.
NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos collaborated on the avoidance maneuver, which did not disrupt station operations or affect the upcoming launch of the Russian Progress 90 cargo craft delivering supplies to the crew. Such maneuvers have become increasingly common due to the buildup of space debris in low-Earth orbit. NASA estimates that 17.6 million pounds of objects are currently in Earth’s orbit.
In addition to the space junk issue, NASA and Roscosmos have been at odds over an air leak in the Russian segment of the space station. The two agencies have differing opinions on the cause and severity of the leak, with concerns raised about potential structural integrity issues. The leak is being monitored, and the affected area has been sealed off when not in use by crew members. Efforts are also being made globally to address the space debris problem and reduce the amount of junk in orbit by 2030.
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