ISS Successfully Executes Collision Avoidance Maneuver Amid Rising Space Junk Threat

On November 19, the International Space Station (ISS) adjusted its orbit to keep away from a fraction of area particles originating from a satellite tv for pc that disintegrated in 2015, in accordance with NASA stories. The maneuver raised the station’s altitude of roughly 250 miles (440 kilometres) above Earth, stopping the particles from coming inside 2.5 miles (4 kilometres) of the orbital outpost. This marked the thirty ninth avoidance motion taken by the ISS since its preliminary launch in November 1998 and the primary occasion of 2024.

Space Debris: A Growing Threat

Data from NASA reveals that over time, the ISS has carried out a number of maneuvers yearly to guard its crew and infrastructure from area particles, though 2024 has seen fewer incidents in comparison with earlier years. Hugh Lewis, a professor of astronautics on the University of Southampton, defined in Live Science that whereas fewer evasive actions have been wanted to this point this yr, this might change unpredictably, with sudden will increase in collision dangers probably necessitating speedy responses.

Causes of Space Junk Proliferation

According to stories, elevated photo voltaic exercise throughout the present photo voltaic most cycle has been influencing the behaviour of area particles. Solar occasions, reminiscent of coronal mass ejections, trigger Earth’s ambiance to increase, creating drag that may alter particles trajectories. Additionally, deliberate satellite tv for pc destruction assessments, reminiscent of Russia’s anti-satellite (ASAT) check in 2021, have considerably contributed to the buildup of hazardous particles. Four of the 9 maneuvers carried out by the ISS since 2021 had been linked to fragments from Cosmos-1408, a Soviet-era satellite tv for pc focused throughout the ASAT operation.

Mitigating Future Risks

Experts, together with Lewis, have emphasised the significance of eradicating defunct satellites to restrict particles progress. It was famous that proactive measures, reminiscent of deorbiting retired satellites, would cut back collision threats considerably. With the ISS scheduled for decommissioning in 2031, sustaining secure operations stays crucial because the risk from area junk continues to escalate.