Space Debris Close to the ISS Now Kept Under Surveillance

Two pieces of space debris are giving NASA engineers a lot of trouble, as they will pass very close to the International Space Station (ISS) today, September 27. Experts don't yet know whether they will have to modify the space lab's orbit to keep it safe.

Called debris avoidance maneuvers, these adjustments are usually made by firing the onboard thrusters, in order to keep a minimum safe distance between the station and anything that may come its way.

Officials from NASA say that there is absolutely no reason to fear that the three-astronaut Expedition 34 crew will be in danger today. Even if the pieces of space junk by some miracle hit the station, there is a Soyuz space capsule ready to assist with the evacuation.

The debris come from the remains of a Russian Cosmos satellite, as well as from an old Indian rocket, respectively, Space reports.