Satellite hunk no threat to space station

NASA is monitoring a piece of space junk that could come close enough to collide with the International Space Station. STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Tracking data indicates it is not on a collision course with the stationThe station's crew of three was warned to seek shelter if necessaryThe debris is expected to be near the station at 4:21 p.m. RELATED TOPICSNASAInternational Space StationSpace Debris (CNN) -- NASA determined Tuesday that a piece of space junk will not pose a threat to the crew aboard the International Space Station.

The space agency had been monitoring a piece of a Chinese satellite that was destroyed in 2007 and had warned the crew to begin making plans to take shelter in the Russian Soyuz capsule if necessary.

However, tracking data shows that the debris will not come close enough to warrant an evacuation of the station, NASA said in a statement after the crew was given the all-clear signal.

The debris is expected to be closest to the space station at 4:21 p.m. ET.

The current space station team is made up of NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev and European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

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