ISRO or Indian Space Research Organisation is India’s space agency founded in 1969 to help develop an indigenous Indian space program. It is one of the 6 largest space agencies in the world today. ISRO maintains one of the biggest fleets of remote sensing (IRS) and communication (INSAT) satellites catering to the needs of the nation through a network of centres, offices, and research institutes in different parts of the country.
What is ISRO’s ‘Zero Orbital Debris’ Milestone?
April 9, 2024
ISRO has said its PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission has practically left zero debris in earth’s orbit.
Why is the POEM-3’s Achievement Significant? According to ISRO’s Space Situational Assessment Report 2022, the world placed 2,533 objects in space in 179 launches in 2022 (up from 2021). Space debris (pieces of spacecraft, rockets, and defunct satellites) poses a risk to several space assets and also leads to the ‘Kessler syndrome’ – creation of more debris due to cascading collisions resulting from one collision.
Is there any International Law Pertaining to Space Debris? Currently, there are no international space laws pertaining to LEO debris. However, most space-exploring nations abide by the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines 2002 (endorsed by the UN in 2007).
How are Space Agencies Dealing with Debris? NASA had instituted its Orbital Debris Program in 1979 and the European Space Agency (ESA) has adopted a ‘Zero Debris charter’ and called for zero space debris by 2030. Japan has launched the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) to tackle space junk. An Indian start-up named Manastu Space is working on technologies like in-space refuelling, de-orbiting of old satellites, and satellite life extension.
ISRO Mission
- Design and development of launch vehicles and related technologies for providing access to space.
- Design and development of satellites and related technologies for earth observation, communication, navigation, meteorology and space science.
- Indian National Satellite (INSAT) programme for meeting telecommunication, television broadcasting and developmental applications.
- Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) programme for management of natural resources and monitoring of environment using space-based imagery.
- Space-based Applications for Societal development.
- Research and Development in space science and planetary exploration.