---
title: "NASA’s Moon Orbiter Almost Crashed Into India’s Moon Orbiter"
description: "Back in October, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently had to adjust its orbit to dodge out of the way of India's Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter."
date: "2021-11-20"
modified: "2021-11-20"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/moon-orbiter-india-crashed"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Moon"
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "ISRO"
  - "lunar reconnaissance orbiter"
  - "NASA"
  - "the digest"
---

# NASA’s Moon Orbiter Almost Crashed Into India’s Moon Orbiter

![Back in October, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently had to adjust its orbit to dodge out of the way of India's Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/moon-orbiter-india-crashed.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA\</em\>*

## Collision Avoided

Even the Moon's orbit is becoming increasingly cluttered with human-made objects.

Back in October, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter had to adjust its orbit to dodge out of the way of India's Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter, according to a [recent statement](<https://www.isro.gov.in/update/15-nov-2021/chandrayaan-2-orbiter-ch2o-performs-evasive-manoeuvre-to-mitigate-critically>) by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

On October 20, the two orbiters got too close for comfort near the Moon's north pole. According to ISRO, "the radial separation between the two spacecraft would be less than 100 meters (328 feet) and the closest approach distance would be only about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles)" at the time.

## Busy Orbit

Both NASA and ISRO agreed to have their orbiters perform maneuvers to avoid a collision on October 18.

"Such coordination between space agencies is an ongoing part of ensuring safe operation of satellites around the moon," Nancy Jones, NASA spokesperson at Goddard Space Flight Center, [told *CNET*](<https://www.cnet.com/news/a-spacecraft-made-an-evasive-maneuver-to-avoid-nasas-lunar-orbiter/>).

"At no time was NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter or Chandrayaan-2 in danger," Jones added.

The event underlines just how important it is to keep track of all human-made objects and the necessary international cooperation to do just that. A collision could not only cost both countries a lot of money, but it could put a lot of other operations and [even lives](<https://futurism.com/russia-actually-fine-satellite>) at risk as well.

**READ MORE:** [A spacecraft needed to make an evasive maneuver to avoid NASA's lunar orbiter](<https://www.cnet.com/news/a-spacecraft-made-an-evasive-maneuver-to-avoid-nasas-lunar-orbiter/>) \[*CNET*\]

**More on the Moon:** *[2024 NASA Landing to Explore Mysterious Magnetic “Swirl” on Moon](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-landing-magnetic-swirl-moon>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)