Space Junk May Require ISS Maneuver In Advance of SpaceX's Dragon 47
SpaceX's Dragon capsule, loaded with food and scientific gear, is scheduled to launch toward the ISS tomorrow evening (with backup launch slots on each of the following two days). There's a last-minute wrinkle, though: Space.com managing editor Tariq Malik reports that a piece of space debris "will pass near enough to the space station on Monday morning (Oct. 8) to require an avoidance maneuver as a safety precaution, NASA space station program manager Mike Suffredini said in a briefing [Saturday]." Tomorrow's planned flight is to be the first under a $1.6 billion contract with NASA that calls for a dozen resupply flights by SpaceX, essential in the post-shuttle era."
Re:This is normal. (Score:5, Insightful)
I was under the impression that maneuvers like this happen every few months or so, so this really isn't a big deal at all.
What makes it somewhat of a big deal is that this is occurring so close to a resupply launch, especially because this is the first official commercial resupply launch (although, as you and the fancy article point out, it isn't really a big deal).