Astros Fire Up Thrusters to Dodge Trash

Space junk becomes increasing concern
By Ambreen Ali,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2009 2:10 AM CDT

Discovery's astronauts fired thrusters yesterday to maneuver the million-pound International Space Station out of the path of approaching space junk, the third such threat to the orbiting lab in two weeks, reports Space.com. The four-inch chunk of debris—from a Chinese rocket that broke apart in 2000—was heading uncomfortably close to the $100 billion station just as the docked crew was planning to venture on a space walk later today.
(Read more Discovery space shuttle stories.)

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