COLA (Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre)

A Collision Avoidance manoeuvre (COLA or CAM) is a thruster firing performed by an active satellite to increase its distance from a predicted close approach. Typically, the satellite raises or lowers its orbit slightly to shift the timing of its passage through the conjunction point. The ISS performs several COLAs per year. SpaceX's Starlink satellites perform autonomous collision avoidance using onboard algorithms and propulsion. A COLA costs fuel (reducing mission life) and may temporarily interrupt service, so operators carefully weigh the collision probability against the operational cost.