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Ballistic panels, also called micrometeorite shielding, are incorporated into the station to protect pressurised sections and critical systems. The type and thickness of these panels depend on their predicted exposure to damage. The station's shields and structure have different designs on the ROS and the USOS. On the USOS, [[Whipple Shield]]s are used. The US segment modules consist of an inner layer made from {{cvt|1.5|–|5.0|cm|in|adj=mid|-thick}} [[2219 aluminium alloy|aluminium]], a {{cvt|10|cm|in|adj=mid|-thick}} intermediate layers of [[Kevlar]] and Nextel (a ceramic fabric),<ref name="nasa-20040716">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/science/spinoff9_nextel_f.html |title=Superhero Ceramics! |last=Plain |first=Charlie |date=16 July 2004 |publisher=[[NASA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123170947/https://www.nasa.gov/missions/science/spinoff9_nextel_f.html |archive-date=23 January 2008 }}</ref> and an outer layer of [[stainless steel]], which causes objects to shatter into a cloud before hitting the hull, thereby spreading the energy of impact. On the ROS, a [[carbon fibre reinforced polymer]] honeycomb screen is spaced from the hull, an aluminium honeycomb screen is spaced from that, with a screen-vacuum thermal insulation covering, and glass cloth over the top.<ref name="roscomos-iss">{{Cite web |url=http://en.roscosmos.ru/202/ |title=International Space Station |publisher=[[Roscosmos]] |access-date=14 May 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627235737/http://en.roscosmos.ru/202/ |archive-date=27 June 2021 }}</ref>
Space debris is tracked remotely from the ground, and the station crew can be notified.<ref name="nasa-debris-package">{{Cite web |url=http://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/library/EducationPackage.pdf |title=Orbital Debris Education Package |last1=Jorgensen |first1=Kira |last2=Johnson |first2=Nicholas |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=1 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408183946/http://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/library/EducationPackage.pdf |archive-date=8 April 2008 }}</ref> If necessary, thrusters on the Russian Orbital Segment can alter the station's orbital altitude, avoiding the debris. These [[Debris Avoidance Manoeuvre]]s (DAMs) are not uncommon, taking place if computational models show the debris will approach within a certain threat distance. Ten DAMs had been performed by the end of 2009.<ref name="newscientist-20090316">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16777-space-station-may-move-to-dodge-debris.html |title=Space station may move to dodge debris |last=Courtland |first=Rachel |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=20 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812203203/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16777-space-station-may-move-to-dodge-debris/ |archive-date=12 August 2023 |magazine=[[New Scientist]] }}</ref><ref name="ODOct08">{{Cite journal |date=October 2008 |title=ISS Maneuvers to Avoid Russian Fragmentation Debris |url=http://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/pdfs/ODQNv12i4.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Orbital Debris Quarterly News |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=1&2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527134134/http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/pdfs/ODQNv12i4.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2010 |access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 2010 |title=Avoiding satellite collisions in 2009 |url=http://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/pdfs/ODQNv14i1.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Orbital Debris Quarterly News |volume=14 |issue=1 |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527142755/http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/pdfs/ODQNv14i1.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2010 |access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> Usually, an increase in orbital velocity of the order of 1 m/s is used to raise the orbit by one or two kilometres. If necessary, the altitude can also be lowered, although such a manoeuvre wastes propellant.<ref name=ODOct08 /><ref name="esa-20080828">{{Cite press release |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ATV_carries_out_first_debris_avoidance_manoeuvre_for_the_ISS |title=ATV carries out first debris avoidance manoeuvre for the ISS |date=28 August 2008 |publisher=[[European Space Agency]] |access-date=26 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929091613/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ATV_carries_out_first_debris_avoidance_manoeuvre_for_the_ISS |archive-date=29 September 2022 }}</ref> If a threat from orbital debris is identified too late for a DAM to be safely conducted, the station crew close all the hatches aboard the station and retreat into their spacecraft in order to be able to evacuate in the event the station was seriously damaged by the debris. This partial station evacuation has occurred on 13 March 2009, 28 June 2011, 24 March 2012
In November 2021, a debris cloud from the destruction of [[Kosmos 1408]] by an anti-satellite weapons test threatened the ISS, leading to the announcement of a yellow alert, leading to crew sheltering in the crew capsules.<ref name="verge-20211115">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/15/22782946/russia-asat-test-satellite-international-space-station-debris |title=Russia blows up a satellite, creating a dangerous debris cloud in space |last1=Grush |first1=Loren |date=15 November 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005233548/https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/15/22782946/russia-asat-test-satellite-international-space-station-debris |archive-date=5 October 2023 |work=[[The Verge]] }}</ref> A couple of weeks later, it had to perform an unscheduled maneuver to drop the station by 310 meters to avoid a collision with hazardous space debris.<ref name="reuters-20211203">{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/international-space-station-swerves-dodge-space-junk-2021-12-03/ |title=International Space Station swerves to dodge space junk |last=Tétrault-Farber |first=Gabrielle |date=3 December 2021 |access-date=3 December 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810131607/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/international-space-station-swerves-dodge-space-junk-2021-12-03/ |archive-date=10 August 2023 |work=[[Reuters]] |editor1-first=Kim |editor2-last=Jones |editor2-first=Gareth |editor1-last=Coghill }}</ref>
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