ELi5: How exactly does the ISS avoid some 2,800 satellites while orbiting Earth?

Question

ELi5: How exactly does the ISS avoid some 2,800 satellites while orbiting Earth?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

The ISS is in a relatively low orbit that’s not that good for most satellites, so many of them are a complete non issue.

For the rest…planning. Orbits are *extremely* predictable. Space agencies track everything and identify any potential conflicts really far in advance. When you can see it coming days or weeks or months away, it only takes a *tiny* correction to make sure things stay apart.

Everything larger than a few inches is tracked by radar all the time. It’s not satellites you worry about, it’s tiny space junk too small to track that’s a more realistic threat.