Space Debris: Growing Threat and Global Solutions

• ISRO has released the "Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) - 2023," compiled by the ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM).
• The report highlights five major on-orbit breakup events in 2023, leading to an increase in space debris.
• IS4OM (2022) ensures the protection of ISRO's space assets and aligns India's space activities with internationally recognized Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) guidelines for outer space operations.

What is Space Debris?

• Space debris includes all non-functional artificial objects floating in Earth's orbit or re-entering the atmosphere. 
• This includes broken satellite parts, spent rocket stages, and remnants of space missions.

Regions with the highest debris concentration:

• The 800-1000 km altitude has the highest concentration of space debris.
• Near 1400 km, especially in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), debris density is significantly high.

Sources of Space Debris:

• Abandoned non-functional satellites and rocket stages
• Collisions and fragmentation of objects in orbit
• Testing and use of space-based weapons
• Lost tools and tiny spacecraft components

Kessler Syndrome: A Serious Problem

• The Kessler Syndrome refers to a scenario where the density of space debris becomes so high that continuous collisions occur, triggering a chain reaction of debris generation. 
• This can make future space missions nearly impossible, as each collision creates more debris, making Earth's orbit increasingly hazardous.

Initiatives to Reduce Space Debris

Global Initiatives and International Collaboration

• Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC): An international government forum coordinating activities related to man-made and natural debris in space.
• UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines: A framework designed to prevent the growing threat of space debris.
• Zero Debris Charter: A global initiative signed by 12 countries, including Austria, Belgium, and Cyprus, aiming to eliminate space debris by 2040.

India's Initiatives

Debris-Free Space Mission (DFSM) 2030:

• India's mission to adopt cleaner and more responsible space technologies to reduce space debris by 2030.

Space Situational Awareness Control Center (SSACC):

• Established by ISRO, this Space Situational Awareness (SSA) center monitors space objects and tracks potential collisions.

Project NETRA (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis):

• India's indigenous SSA system, developed by ISRO to track satellites and space debris in Earth's orbit.