[FPSPACE] Space debris of undisclosable origin delays ISS orbit boost

[jeoberg at comcast.net]

from today's On-Orbit Status Report:

   ISS Reboost Cancellation:  This morning’s planned ISS reboost by Progress M-65/30P was cancelled shortly before its scheduled time due to a post-reboost conjunction conflict. Planning of the reboost maneuver originally looked at five options, each with its respective potential for creating a conjunction with Kosmos-2421 satellite pieces and other debris.  The five options were then narrowed down to two with the least likelihood for a conjunction (they showed ~1 km radial miss distance).  Both options were acceptable as of 24h before the reboost since they stayed out of the “forbidden” box, defined by 0.75 km radial miss distance, and both were pursued.  But at about 2-3 h before the maneuver, the pieces’ predicted flight paths had moved into the box, passing at ~0.71 km -- which triggered the cancellation for today.  Backup date for the reboost is now 10/4 (Sat), with all options being screened starting 48 hrs before.  Significantly (fortunately), the cancellation occurred
  befor
e attitude control authority was handed over to Russian MCS (Motion Control System).  The purpose of the reboost is to set up orbital phasing for the 17S/16S Soyuz launch & landing.  The number of conjunctions has increased in the recent past, both due to the Kosmos-2412 debris cloud and the currently unusually quiet sun with the resulting reduced atmospheric density at high altitudes causing less orbital drag, i.e., less orbit clean-up. 



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From: jeoberg at comcast.net 


JimO notes that the 'space litter' is not otherwise specified in the Moscow story. What does anyone want to bet it is a piece off the 'satellite-whose-name-must-not-be spoken' in Moscow? The Russian satellite whose disintegration last spring has been denied by Russian space officials? 
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