SAN FRANCISCO, iNews.id – NASA is assessing the potential risk of a piece of debris outer space visible towards the International Space Station (ISS). The US space agency said the debris was part of an old rocket.
NASA said the seven crew members on the space station were believed to be in no danger. However, if the risk to the station is taken seriously, NASA and its international partners will perform debris avoidance maneuvers to adjust the ISS’ temporary orbit.
The closest pass of the debris will likely occur around 5:30 a.m. ET on Friday. Highlighting the growing problem of dangerous space debris and the urgent need for an effective solution to remove it, NASA said the debris, labeled “Object 39915,” came from the old Pegasus rocket launched by the US in May 1994 and the stage it broke two years later.
Near-Earth space debris is a constant threat to the ISS as well as the various functioning satellites that provide critical services on the ground. A few weeks ago, astronauts on the space station were ordered to take cover in their docked spacecraft after controllers suddenly noticed a new cloud of debris heading near the station.
Editor: Dini Listiyani
