**ISS Conducts Orbit Adjustment to Dodge Space Debris**

NASA successfully executed an orbital adjustment for the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday to avoid a fragment of space debris. The thrusters on the ISS were fired at 2:09 p.m. CT for 5 minutes and 31 seconds, repositioning the station to sidestep debris from a decommissioned defense meteorological satellite that broke apart in 2015, NASA reported.

The debris, described as "small" by the U.S. Space Forces-Space, could have approached within 2.5 miles of the ISS if no maneuver had been performed. Both NASA and its international partners were alerted to the potential collision risk on Sunday. Continuous monitoring by NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and other involved entities led to the decision to execute the avoidance maneuver.

NASA emphasized that the quick decision-making capability of such maneuvers varies, but they can act within a few hours if necessary to prevent potential collisions. This latest maneuver marks the 39th instance of taking such proactive measures since the ISS was launched in 1998, and the first of this year.

While the ISS orbits at speeds exceeding 17,500 mph in a zone dense with satellites and debris, this incident had no effect on station operations. The scheduled launch of the Progress 90 spacecraft, aimed at delivering supplies to the ISS, remains unaffected and is set for Thursday.

The October 2022 precedent saw the ISS executing a similar thrust operation to avoid debris from a Russian satellite, reinforcing the continuous threat posed by space debris. The U.S. Space Forces-Space highlights the existence of roughly 19,000 tracked pieces of debris in Earth’s orbit, exclusive of operational satellites. Additionally, NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office estimates about 9,000 metric tons of material currently in orbit, with debris capable of reaching velocities of up to 18,000 mph.

While such debris poses negligible risk to Earth inhabitants due to atmospheric burn-up, it remains a significant hazard for spacecraft and astronauts, particularly those performing spacewalks. Even minuscule fragments, as small as a blueberry, can generate impacts equivalent to a falling anvil, potentially causing substantial damage.

Currently, no binding international regulations manage space debris. Nonetheless, nations such as the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, France, and the European Space Agency have enacted guidelines to mitigate further contributions to the problem. Efforts are also underway to develop new technologies aimed at clearing existing debris in space.