A collision avoidance maneuver is a deliberate change to a satellite’s orbit intended to increase its predicted separation from another object. Operators consider one when tracking data indicates a conjunction may pose a meaningful collision risk, accounting for the estimated miss distance and uncertainty in both objects’ positions.
These maneuvers matter because even a small orbital adjustment can reduce the chance of a damaging impact, while unnecessary changes can disrupt a satellite’s mission or create new risks. Operators use updated tracking information and risk assessments to decide whether and when to act, then monitor the resulting orbit. A close approach alone does not prove that a maneuver occurred or that either object was in imminent danger.