Orbital debris in the news...again

Not even a day after Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, it seems the International Space Station (ISS) may have to be maneuvered to avoid a piece of space junk left over from Cosmos 1275, a Russian satellite that broke apart shortly after its launch in 1981. If the ISS is maneuvered, Discovery will also need to alter its course in order to rendezvous properly with the station. The debris in question is approximately 10 centimeters (four inches) in diameter.

Last week, ISS astronauts had to evacuate to the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the station in anticipation of a possible collision with a piece of debris from a spent Delta 2 upper stage. The debris passed by ISS without incident.

Reports:

MSNBC
CNN