Posted: Sat, Mar 24, 2012, 9:10 AM ET (1310 GMT)
The crew of the International Space Station sheltered in their Soyuz capsules for a short time early Saturday as a precaution when a piece of orbital debris from a satellite collision passed close to the station. Station controllers awakened the six ISS crewmembers at about 11:30 pm EDT Friday (0330 GMT Saturday) after data indicated a piece of debris would pass close to the ISS. The object, debris from the collision of the Cosmos 2251 and Iridium 33 satellites in 2009, was projected to pass within 15 kilometers of the station, but limited tracking data led station officials to take a "cautionary and prudent approach". The debris made its closest approach at 2:38 am EDT (0638 GMT) Saturday without incident, and crews left their Soyuz capsules shortly thereafter. This was the third time that station crews have sheltered in Soyuz capsules because of the threat of a debris collision.
