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The <keyword id="116095" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-space-research-organisation" source="Orion">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword> (ISRO) is gearing up for an "extremely challenging" experiment of controlled re-entry of a decommissioned orbiting satellite on Tuesday. The low <keyword id="6359982" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="earth" source="Orion">Earth</keyword> satellite, Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1), was launched on October 12, 2011, as a joint satellite venture of ISRO and the French space agency, CNES for tropical weather and climate studies. An uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude was identified as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1, weighing about 1000 kg. About 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up, an ISRO statement noted. This left-over fuel was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact the uninhabited location in the Pacific Ocean. Controlled re-entries involve deorbiting to very low altitudes to ensure impact occurs within a targeted safe zone. Usually, large satellites/rocket bodies, which are likely to survive aero-thermal fragmentation upon re-entry, are made to undergo controlled re-entry to limit ground casualty risk. However, all such satellites are specifically designed to undergo controlled re-entry at <keyword id="336838" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="eol" source="Orion">EOL</keyword>. "MT1 was not designed for EOL operations through controlled re-entry which made the entire exercise extremely challenging", ISRO said. Furthermore, the on-board constraints of the aged satellite, where several systems had lost redundancy and showed degraded performance, and maintaining subsystems under harsher environmental conditions at much lower than originally designed orbital altitude added to the operational complexities. Innovative workarounds were implemented by the operations team based on the study, deliberations, and exchanges among the mission, operations, flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, navigation, thermal, and other sub-system design teams across the ISRO centres, who worked in synergy to surmount these challenges. Since August 2022, 18 orbit manoeuvres have been performed to progressively lower the orbit. In between the de-orbiting, aero-braking studies at different solar panel orientations were also carried out to gain better insights into the physical process of atmospheric drag affecting the orbital decay of the satellite. The final de-boost strategy has been designed after taking into consideration several constraints, including visibility of the re-entry trace over ground stations, ground impact within the targeted zone, and allowable operating conditions of subsystems, especially the maximum deliverable thrust and the maximum firing duration of the thrusters. The final two de-boost burns followed by the ground impact are expected to take place between 16:30 IST to 19:30 IST on March seven, ISRO said. Aero-thermal simulations show that no large fragments of the satellites are likely to survive the aerothermal heating during the re-entry. Although the mission life of the satellite originally was three years, it continued to provide valuable data services for more than a decade supporting regional and global climate models till 2021, Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency said. UN/IADC (Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee) space debris mitigation guidelines recommend deorbiting a <keyword id="91911" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="leo" source="Orion">LEO</keyword> (Low Earth Orbit) object at its end-of-life (EOL), preferably through controlled re-entry to a safe impact zone, or by bringing it to an orbit where the orbital lifetime is less than 25 years, according ISRO. It is also recommended to carry out "passivation" of on-board energy sources to minimise the risk of any post-mission accidental break-up. The orbital lifetime of MT1 would have been more than 100 years in its 20 deg inclined operational orbit of 867 km altitude, according to ISRO. "As a responsible space agency committed to safe and sustainable operations in outer space, ISRO proactively takes efforts for better compliance with the UN/IADC space debris mitigation guidelines on post-mission disposal of LEO objects", the statement said. The re-entry experiment of MT1 has been undertaken as a part of the ongoing efforts as this satellite with sufficient left-over fuel presented a unique opportunity to test the relevant methodologies and understand the associated operational nuances of post mission disposal by direct re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, it was stated. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/a-unique-cricket-match-for-wheelchair-bound-players-in-kolkata/articleshow/98446407.cms">A unique cricket match for wheelchair bound players in Kolkata</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/women-are-shaping-new-real-estate-trends-like-preference-for-bigger-homes-anarock/articleshow/98446173.cms">Women are shaping new real estate trends like preference for bigger homes: Anarock</a>

ISRO gears up for 'extremely challenging' experiment of controlled reentry of aged satellite

<ul><li>India just tested is anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) by taking down a live satellite in low earth orbit. </li><li>While this may make India a 'space power', it weakens its fight against dangerous space debris.</li><li>In the past, Russian satellites have been destroyed by space debris that was left behind by China's testing of its ASAT.</li></ul>India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, just announced the successful test of India’s anti-satellite weapon (ASAT). In his address to the nation, where he highlighted India’s entry to the club of the world’s space powers — he left out any mention of the resulting space debris. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Chowkidar Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/718314968102367232/ypY1GPCQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="30875" retweetcount="10983" status="In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations… https://t.co/nrGnTyDXdh" createdat="1553670539000" id="1110800868058660864"></div>















 And, while this gambit adds India to the list of the select few nations to have done so successfully, it’s out of place with India’s role as a member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="&quot;A similar test by China in 2007 has left behind a lot of debris which is still floating around.&quot;" auname="Ajay Lele, Senior Fellow with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)"></div>















 As a member of IADC, such a test by India could undermine the country’s credibility in the arena. India is also a signatory of the Outer Space Treaty which prohibits the use of weapons in space and requires nations to take steps to mitigate space debris. With respect to the first part Kumar Abhijeet, a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) clarifies, "If we look up the international treaty. Nowhere is ASAT testing prohibited. We are very much within the international laws to make use of it." But, in cases where space debris is created, nations are under the obligation to pay compensation for any damages that arise from it. 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="We are well within the norms, but if at all there any debris that has been created, since we are a part of international treaties, we owe the liability as well." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>









 When China <a href="https://swfound.org/media/9550/chinese_asat_fact_sheet_updated_2012.pdf">tested</a> its ASAT capabilities back in 2007, the test left behind 2,500 to 3,000 pieces of dangerous space debris in Earth’s low earth orbit (LEO). And despite never ending perception of space, debris in that particular region is a threat to other satellites. A Russian satellite was one such <a href="https://www.space.com/20138-russian-satellite-chinese-space-junk.html">victim</a> in 2013, when a piece of space debris struck the body of the satellite, destroying it. And, the question is not solely about space debris destroying other satellites. It's also about how space debris can result in more space debris as it knocks into older objects left behind in space. The true danger is that some of these pieces of debris are so small that it's nearly impossible to track them. Unlike China, where the test was conducted at an altitude of 800 km, India's ASAT test was conducted only 300 km above the Earth where the probability of space debris is unlikely. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="Debris also depends on where we’re doing the test. In China’s case, they did it at 800kms — we’ve conducted ours at 300kms. The debris will most likely burn up in the atmosphere. So there is minimum chance of debris being created." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>













 'Operation Burn Frost' was conducted in a similar manner at an altitude of 240km. Even then, while most of the debris managed to fall back to Earth within a year, a few pieces were still blasted to a higher orbit. To prove it’s military might in space, India had the option of <a href="https://defenceupdate.in/space-war-indias-anti-satellite-weapons/">conducting</a> a fly-by test where, instead of destroying a live satellite, the missile would just glide past. A former Integrated Defence Staff Lieutenant General, HS Lidder, saw this coming when he <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25216230/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/indian-army-wants-military-space-program/">said</a>, “With time, we will get sucked into the military race to protect space assets and inevitably there will be a military contest in space. In a life and death scenario, space will provide the advantage.” See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/prime-minister-modi-in-his-live-address-says-indian-scientists-shot-down-a-low-orbit-satellite-300-km-away-in-space/articleshow/68593276.cms">Indian enters an elite space club after scientists shoot down a low orbit satellite 300 km away in space, says Prime Minister Modi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-is-to-trying-to-beat-elon-musks-spacex-success/articleshow/67550362.cms">India’s apex space agency is following Elon Musk's idea — and taking it a step forward</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-nasa-just-spotted-a-black-hole-spinning-so-fast-that-it-could-be-making-space-itself-rotate/articleshow/66416605.cms">ISRO, NASA just spotted a black hole spinning so fast that it could be making space itself rotate</a>

India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris

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ISRO gears up for 'extremely challenging' experiment of controlled reentry of aged satellite

PTI

India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris

Prabhjote Gill

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