Space Station needs maneuver to avoid satellite debris

The International Space Station will need to maneuver Friday to dodge a piece of orbiting debris from the 2009 crash of an active Iridium communication satellite and a defunct Russian satellite, USA Today reported, citing the US Space Command.

The trajectory of the debris, about 10 centimeters in diameter (almost 4 inches), will bring it near the station and "has the potential of a collision," NASA said in a news release.

The crew is to fire the Zvezda service module engines at 11:10 a.m. ET. It will be the 13th evasive action since 1998.

The February 2009 smash-up, which happened in polar orbit 485 miles above northern Siberia, was the first time that two satellites collided.

The Iridium satellite was one of a network of 66 satellites in low-Earth orbit. The company said the loss would have "minimal impact" on service to its 309,000 subscribers, which include the Pentagon, other government agencies and various land, sea and aviation industries. The Defense Department is said to be the dominant user.