The space station was visualized from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during its departure on November 8, 2021. Credit: NASA Johnson
At 1:58 a.m. CST, 2:58 a.m. EST today (December 3, 2021), the Russian Progress 79, connected to the area station, fired its thrusters for 2 minutes and 41 seconds to somewhat decrease the stations orbit. This maneuver offered a healthy margin of separation from a piece of Pegasus rocket debris (object 39915) that ballistics specialists have actually been tracking. The Expedition 66 team aboard the station is not in any extra threat.
The Pre-determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver, or PDAM, was coordinated in between NASA flight controllers, Russian ballistics officials, and the stations other worldwide partners.
The stations orbit has been lowered by 3/10 of a mile at apogee and 4/10 of a mile at perigee. The existing orbit is 262.6 x 258.8 statute miles.
By NASA
December 3, 2021
Object 39915 was a piece of particles created during the separation of item 23106 (Pegasus R/B). The launch happened on May 19, 1994, and the break up of the rockets upper phase took place on June 3, 1996.
