Space Junk

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Last Updated: September 2024 (Space Junk)

Space Junk

This article deals with ‘Space Junk‘. This is part of our series on ‘Science and Technology, which is an important pillar of the GS-3 syllabus. For more articles, you can click here.

Introduction

  • Space Junk is the collection of defunct objects in orbit around Earth. 
  • Two primary debris fields exist, i.e. (1) the ring of objects in the Geostationary Orbit and (2) the cloud of objects in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Space Junk

Kessler’s Syndrome  

  • Matter in the orbit travels at ridiculously high speeds. If this matter were to travel in the same plane and direction indefinitely, it would be impossible for any matter to collide. However, in space, uncontrolled objects do not follow a straight path. Instead, each piece of debris is subject to drift and decay and can collide with each other at any time. 
  • The chance of collision is influenced by the number of objects in space. Beyond a certain point, a runaway chain reaction may occur that would rapidly increase the number of debris objects in orbit and significantly increase the risk to operational satellites. This is known as Kessler’s Syndrome.

Risks associated with Space Debris

  • Kessler Syndrome (explained above)
  • Increased cost of space launches due to extra protective and mitigation measures.
  • Interference with astronomical observations.
  • Risk to space assets and astronauts
  • Large space debris re-entering the atmosphere in an uncontrolled way can create a risk to the population on the ground.

Steps to Combat Space Junk

Steps by India 

  1. Project NETRA (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis): It is a joint project of ISRO and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). Under the project, optical telescope facilities, connected radars, data processing units, and a control centre will be established to track space objects as small as 10 cm up to an orbit of 2,000 km. 
  2. Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM) 2030: It aims to achieve debris-free space missions by all Indian space actors by 2030. 
  3. Space Situational Awareness Control Centre (SSACC): It assimilates tracking data of inactive satellites 

International Level

  1. Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC): It is an international governmental forum for worldwide coordination related to man-made and natural debris in space. 
  2. Zero Debris Charter: Signed by 12 countries, it contains high-level guiding principles and jointly defined targets to become debris-neutral by 2030.  
  3. Other country specific projects
Steps to Combat Space Junk

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