On 30 April 2025, the International Space Station successfully avoided a collision with debris from a Chinese rocket by firing its thrusters. This move from the on-orbit laboratory ensured the safety of onboard crew members as well as prevented any damage to the space structure.
A Skilful Manoeuvre In Space Helping The International Space Station Avoid Collision With Space Debris
The manoeuvre from the International Space Station on 30 April 2025 was a preventive measure to ensure that floating space debris doesn’t come in contact with the space laboratory. From NASA’s official report, we learn that this debris remains from the Chinese Long March rocket that launched into space back in 2005.
This piece of space junk was on course for a close flyby of the ISS, hence raising concerns of a possible collision. To avoid this collision, the ISS had to act fast and create some space between itself and the piece of space junk.
NASA, Roscosmos, and other space agencies aboard the ISS were able to work out a pre-planned Debris Avoidance Manoeuvre. This manoeuvre involved the firing of the Progress 91 thrusters at 6:10 pm EDT on 30 April 2025 for 3 minutes, 33 seconds.
By doing this, the ISS was able “to raise the orbit of the International Space Station to provide an extra margin of distance from a piece of orbital debris from a fragment of a Chinese Long March rocket launched in 2005.” NASA says that failure to manoeuvre would have put the fragment within 0.4 miles of the station.
This skilful manoeuvre came just a day before the remarkable NASA space walk by Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers on 1 May 2025. While this manoeuvre is remarkable, it also raises concerns about space debris and the issues they pose for space exploration.
The International Space Station’s Most Recent Debris Manoeuvre Turns Attention To Space Debris
This isn’t the first time that the ISS is performing a pre-planned Debris Avoidance Manoeuvre. The space laboratory experienced a similar incident twice in the month of November 2024.
The incident on 30 April 2025 was the 41st orbit-boosting burn for the ISS as it avoids collisions with space debris. With more space exploration missions planned for the future, we expect more debris avoidance manoeuvres from the ISS.
These missions often leave debris in space, increasing the possibility of a collision with other functioning space vessels. Various international agencies are researching ways to manage and control space waste to ensure the safe operation of other functional missions.
China has been called out regarding how it handles waste from its various space missions. In the coming years, we hope to see advancements in how various space agencies and firms handle space waste generated from their missions.
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