Problem of Space Debris
Context
Most likely the debris of a Chinese rocket Chang Zheng 3B
The space above Earth is overcrowded
Four spherical metal balls fell from the sky in some villages of Gujarat over the past few days
What is Space Junk?
Smaller things, like bits of debris or paint flecks that have fallen off a rocket
Space debris encompasses both natural meteoroid and artificial (human-made) orbital debris
Big objects such as dead satellites that have failed or been left in orbit at the end of their mission
Most artificial debris is in orbit about the Earth (hence the term “orbital” debris).
Any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space
How are they generated?
They often re-enter the atmosphere after a few years
But debris or satellites left at higher altitudes of 36,000 kilometres
Some objects in lower orbits of a few hundred kilometres can return quickly
Some space junk results from collisions or anti-satellite tests in orbit
All space junk is the result of us launching objects from Earth
What risks does space junk pose to space exploration?
High momentum strikes
Usability of space
Collateral damage
Kessler Syndrome
Collisions
India and Space Debris
So, the country has a total of 217 space objects orbiting the earth.
Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) project
India had 103 spacecraft, including active and defunct satellites, and 114 space debris objects
Mechanism against damage
Outer Space Treaty, 1967
All space objects, including the defunct space debris, are under the jurisdiction of the ‘State of Registry’
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects
UN Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS)
Space is beyond national jurisdiction and falls under the ambit of international law
Efforts for space debris removal
NORAD, or the North American Aerospace Defence Command, is an initiative of the U.S. and Canada
Clearspace-1 (of European Space Agency) is scheduled to launch in 2025
NASA undertakes DAMs or Debris Avoidance Manoeuvres
Way forward
Four techniques: Deorbiting, Orbital lifetime reduction, Disposal orbits, Active removal
Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to people
High-accuracy assessment and prediction tools
Space junk is no one country’s responsibility
Space traffic management