Why is it in the news?
- The annual meeting of Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC)
- India aims to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030, indicating a commitment to mitigating space debris.
About Space Debris
- Space debris refers to non-functional, artificial objects in Earth’s orbit or re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Need for Mitigating Space Debris:
- Debris collisions can disable operational spacecraft, causing damage to components like optics and solar panels.
- Uncontrolled debris growth can lead to an escalating cascade of collisions, known as the Kessler syndrome.
- Large space debris re-entering the atmosphere can pose risks to the population on the ground.
Initiatives by ISRO:
- ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) provides efficient information on on-orbit collision and fragmentation.
- Project NETRA (Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis) establishes a space surveillance and tracking network with RADARS and Optical Telescopes.
Global Initiatives:
- RE-MOVEDEBRIS: Performs key active debris removal (ADR) technology demonstrations.
- UN Liability Convention (1972) and UN Registration Convention (1976) are the international agreements addressing liability for space object damage and registration of launched objects.
| About IADC
· Established in 1993 as an international forum for space agencies, organizations, and governmental bodies. · Facilitates exchange of information on space debris research activities, cooperation in debris research, and identification of mitigation options. · Provides technical recommendations to the world space communities but is not a regulatory organization. · Includes space agencies from 13 countries, such as India (ISRO), US (NASA), Russia, France, UK, EU, China, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Ukraine, and Italy.
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