Space Shuttle Discovery Avoids Space Junk Collision

By: Mary Smith
Published: Mar 23, 2009
Updated: Mar 16, 2010

Space shuttle Discovery had to relocate as NASA ordered the astronauts to move the vehicle to avoid a possible space junk collision. Pilots aboard the ship fired thrusters to relocate its position.

Space shuttle Discovery had to move approximately 180 degrees to avoid a possible collision with space junk debris. NASA ordered the ship's pilots to fire thrusters for the maneuver to prevent a potential threat. The debris is part of a Chinese satellite.

"The debris is estimated to be about four inches in diameter, part of a spent Chinese satellite upper stage. It is in a similar altitude as Discovery and the station, but in a 98 degree inclination rather than 51.6 degrees," NASA officials said in a statement.

Discovery's belly is now facing forward with a natural drag of about a foot per second. This is enough to be out of the way of a 4-inch piece of floating debris. The maneuver eliminates the risk for Monday's spacewalk.

Space shuttle Discovery astronauts will conduct a spacewalk mission on Monday. The astronauts will attempt to fix a pin which was inserted upside down.

NASA astronauts aboard the shuttle will make a spacewalk to an equipment storage shelf which jammed over the weekend. The astronauts inserted a pin upside down which got the mechanism stuck. One of the spacewalkers said there was a flaw in the way the system was built.

The two astronauts to conduct Monday's spacewalk are former schoolteachers Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II. They will attempt to use all their strength to loosen the pin. If the mission fails, the jammed platform will be tied down with tethers.

Space junk is just another obstacle in the way during the Discovery's mission. There seems to be a growing concern as both the International Space Station and Discovery had junk too close for comfort. However, the spacewalkers said they will not worry about the floating debris on Monday.

"We have enough other risks and worries to take on as we go outside," Swanson said.