ISS Orbit Raised Ahead of Crew Arrival

International Space Station Expedition 34 will perform two spacewalks under the Russian and US space programs.

The International Space Station's orbit has been increased by almost 2.5 kilometers in a test of the station's new emergency debris avoidance system, Mission Control told RIA Novosti.

The new system, known as the Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM), addresses the situation where dangerous debris is detected with little advance warning, down to as little as three hours from the approach.

The reboost was originally scheduled for Thursday, but had been postponed "after encountering some challenges latching down one of the Beta Gimbal Assemblies that rotate the station's huge solar arrays," NASA said on its website.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/ISS_Orbit_Raised_Ahead_of_Crew_Arrival_999.html