John Paul M. Joaquin Science 10.26.2022 03:Oct AM EDT

International Space Station Performs Avoidance Maneuver, Dodges Russian Anti-Satellite Test Debris

The International Space Station (ISS) gets to live another day.

NASA recently reported that the ISS performed a Pre-determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) to avoid fragments from a Russian anti-satellite test in space.

The maneuver did not negatively affect any of the space station's operations, per Space.com.

ISS PDAM Execution Details

NASA's report mentioned that the ISS' Progress 81 thrusters came to life at 8:25 PM EDT to execute a PDAM that got the space station to an even safer distance to avoid a fragment of a now-defunct Soviet-era satellite.

The report states that the ISS fired up its Progress 81 thrusters for five minutes and five seconds, which increased the station's orbital altitude by 2/10 of a mile at apogee and 8/10 of a mile at perigee.

In simpler terms, the ISS is currently in an orbit of 264.3 z 255.4 statute miles.

The debris from the defunct Soviet-era satellite originally came from Cosmos 1408, which went out of commission in the 1980s but remained in space regardless. As such, it became a prime target for Russia and its tests for its direct ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile.

The ASAT test that destroyed the Cosmos 1408 and created the debris that almost endangered the ISS was conducted by Russia on Nov. 15, 2021. Had the ISS not moved its orbit, the debris would have passed within about three miles of the space station.

However, this test was condemned by experts, especially by astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

According to the astrophysicist, Russia had no reason to use a target as big as Cosmos 1408 for its ASAT test, adding that the Russians could have used a smaller target, which would have generated less debris.

This wasn't the first time the ISS had to dodge debris made by Russia's ASAT tests. A separate Space.com article mentioned that the ISS also performed a PDAM to avoid another fragment of Cosmos 1408 in June.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson also condemned Russia's ASAT tests, calling them "irresponsible" in a past statement.

"With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS< but also their own cosmonauts," Nelson added. "Their actions are reackless and dangerous, threatening as well as the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board."

Nelson also reminded Russia that all nations have a responsibility to create and foster a safe and sustainable space environment.

Why Is Space Debris Dangerous To The ISS

Digital Trends cited a NASA research in its report that states there are tens of millions of pieces of space debris in low-Earth orbit. But while most of them are less than 1mm long and impossible to track, there are also half a million marble-sized fragments in orbit.

These pieces of debris are not problematic on their own. However, when the space station's own speed is included in the equation, it could cause major damage or something far worse.

For those unaware, the ISS is orbiting Earth at a speed of five miles per second or 18,000 mph, per NASA. To put that speed into perspective, a rocket needs to travel at 25,000 mph to escape Earth's gravity, meaning that the ISS is traveling at a speed near to what a rocket needs to go to reach space.