India’s Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter performed a manoeuvre in September to prevent a close encounter with the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), officially known as Danuri, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The adjustment carried out on September 19, 2024, was necessary to avoid a potential collision between the two orbiters, which was projected for two weeks later if no changes were made to Chandrayaan-2’s trajectory. Following this, on October 1, 2024, another orbital modification was implemented to maintain separation from other lunar orbiters, including NASA‘s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), as per an ISRO report. Frequent Collision Risks Among Lunar Orbiters Around the lunar poles, orbiters such as Chandrayaan-2, Danuri, and LRO share a similar near-polar path, increasing the likelihood of close approaches. Over the past 18 months, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), which operates Danuri, reported having received over 40 collision alerts for interactions among Danuri, Chandrayaan-2, and LRO. These alerts, referred to as “red alarms,” underscore the growing risk of accidental collisions as multiple international agencies operate missions in close proximity around …