Space Debris

Upper Stage of PSLV-37 rocket enters earth's atmosphere as predicted: Isro

The upper stage of PSLV-37 rocket, which launched a record number of 104 satellites more than seven years ago, has re-entered the earth's atmosphere as predicted, the Indian Space Research Organisation announced on Tuesday. PSLV-C37 was launched on February 15, 2017 with Cartosat-2D as the main payload along with another 103 satellites as co-passengers. It created history as the first mission to launch 104 satellites with a single vehicle, the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency noted in a statement. After injecting the satellites and passivation, the upper stage (PS4) was left at an orbit of approximately 470 x 494 km size. It was regularly tracked and its orbital altitude slowly decayed, primarily due to atmospheric drag effects, it said. Since September 2024, IS4OM (ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management) regularly monitored the orbital decay as part of its regular activities and predicted the re-entry into the atmosphere in October first week.

Debris from Russian satellite forces Sunita Williams into emergency shelter

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams had to take emergency shelter on the ISS after the breakup of a defunct Russian satellite in space created more than 100 trackable debris

Scientists call for legally binding global treaty to eliminate space junk

Scientists have called for a legally binding treaty to ensure Earth's orbit isn't irreparably harmed by the future expansion of the global space industry

Nearly 60 startups register with ISRO since opening of Indian space sector

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that about 60 startups have registered with ISRO since the "unlocking" of the Indian Space sector recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and quite a few of them are dealing with projects related to space debris managementThe other startups' proposals vary from nano-satellite, launch vehicles, ground systems, research etc.This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while speaking after inaugurating the "ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operation" (IS4OM) at ISRO Control Centre, in Bengaluru on Monday.Jitendra Singh recalled that only last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during the inauguration of IN-SPACe headquarters at Ahmedabad, said, "When the strength of government Space institutions and the passion of India's private sector will meet,

US announces ban on anti-satellite missile tests to cut space debris

Calling on other nations to make similar commitments and to work together in establishing this as a norm, Harris said in a statement late on Monday that such efforts benefit all countries

Launching into space? Not so fast. Insurers baulk at new coverage

The insurance dilemma underlines a greater problem: no one is cleaning up the mess in space

Nasa slams China over 'irresponsible standards' over space debris

Nasa slammed China for failing to meet 'responsible standards' regarding its space debris, hours after remnants of the country's out of control rocket disintegrated over Indian Ocean near the Maldives

This startup set up by 21-year-olds tracks dead satellites and 'space junk'

Digantara, a company incubated at Indian Insitute of Science (IISc), aims to combat the growing problem of space debris by developing India's first space-based surveillance platform

Centre proposes Rs 33 crore to protect Indian satellites from space debris

Scientists say 50 years of human space exploration has led to the creation of junk around Earth's orbit, posing serious traffic risks to man-made satellites

A $100-million effort to remove 750,000 pieces of junk that encircle Earth

With an estimated 750,000 bits of old satellites and rockets circling the Earth at about 8 kilometers per second, a collision could instantly shatter a multimillion dollar satellite