ISS Alters Orbit to Dodge Space Debris

The International Space Station (ISS) adjusted its orbit to avoid a piece of space debris from a defunct satellite, executing a thruster burn for over five minutes. This maneuver, coordinated by NASA and its partners, ensured the debris would not come within 2.5 miles of the ISS, posing no impact on station operations or upcoming missions. This marks the 39th such maneuver since the ISS's launch in 1998, highlighting ongoing challenges posed by space debris, which includes over 19,000 cataloged pieces in Earth's orbit.