ISS Forced to Shift Its Position to Dodge Russian Space Junk

In 2021, Russia blew up a defunct Cosmos 1408 satellite in orbit in awidely condemned missile test.

Progress 81 is a Russian cargo craft docked to the ISS.

The spacecraft’s thrusters can be used to move the station around in orbit.

The thrusters moved the ISS into a higher-altitude orbit.

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NASAadministrator Bill Nelson had called the missile test “irresponsible.”

The ISS crew wasforced to take emergency sheltershortly after the test was conducted in 2021.

Earlier in 2022, the European Space Agency’s Earth-observingSentinel-1A satellite barely escapeda collision with Cosmos 1408 debris.

Space junk is a worsening problem.

The debris field ranges from nonfunctional full-size satellites to tiny bits of trash.

Even small pieces can damage satellites, spacecraft and space stations.

Space agencies are constantly tracking debris so corrections can be made to keep space assets safe.

NASA said Monday’s repositioning maneuver didn’t impact ISS activities.