It is called "Orbital position". Geosynchronous satellites are much higher and the ISS is in a lower no geosync orbit. Other junk from early flights are at a different altitude above the surface of the earth. Persistent space junk is persistent because it stays in its orbital position. Junk that changes altitude falls to earth and burns up. The US Space command tracks every piece of space junk in orbit and plots its trajectory. There is over 100,000 pieces of junk. if they see a crossing path with the ISS, they can move ISS out of the way by changing its position or velocity slightly. With all that said, micro meteorites strike the ISS with regularity. It is designed for this. When astronauts spacewalk, they avoid touching the structure as these impacts leave razor sharp edges which could cut spacesuit gloves.
It is called "Orbital position". Geosynchronous satellites are much higher and the ISS is in a lower no geosync orbit. Other junk from early flights are at a different altitude above the surface of the earth. Persistent space junk is persistent because it stays in its orbital position. Junk that changes altitude falls to earth and burns up. The US Space command tracks every piece of space junk in orbit and plots its trajectory. There is over 100,000 pieces of junk. if they see a crossing path with the ISS, they can move ISS out of the way by changing its position or velocity slightly. With all that said, micro meteorites strike the ISS with regularity. It is designed for this. When astronauts spacewalk, they avoid touching the structure as these impacts leave razor sharp edges which could cut spacesuit gloves.
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