The number of rocket launches and satellites peaked in 2021, and as a result, space debris has also increased, increasing the likelihood of collisions with active satellites.
The number of rocket launches and satellites peaked in 2021, and as a result, space debris has also increased, increasing the likelihood of collisions with active satellites.
In the latest edition of the Space Situational Assessment Report, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has ruled out the increasing risk of collisions in space due to rising orbital debris. space waste The launch, followed by an Anti-Satellite Weapon Strike (ASAT), is the result of thousands of rocket parts from previous collisions, inactive satellites and fragments. While some have re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, many others have continued to orbit Earth and collide with active satellites. Given that the number of launches and payloads peaked in 2021, crisis It just got faster. Planning a maneuver to avoid a collision requires spending hours monitoring the wreckage. Also given the extra fuel spent on such movements, it becomes a costly exercise. India made 19 such reforms in 2021, which is the biggest reform for the country so far
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There are currently over 25,000 active orbital debris detected
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US and Russia/USSR are responsible for over 70% of debris
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The number of payloads per launch reached 16 in 2022
space race
The chart shows the number of rocket launches and the number of payloads they have carried over the years. In 2021, 135 launches carried 1,726 payloads into space, both the highest since the launch of the first satellite
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rise of rubble
The chart shows the increase in the different types of space debris over the years. In 2022, there are about 25,000 such articles still orbiting the Earth.
Three major jumps in fission debris were caused by the ASAT test (1) on Fengyun-1C conducted by China in 2007, the accidental collision between Kosmos 2251 and Iridium 33 in 2009 (2) and the Russian ASAT test in November 2021. (3)
country wise contribution
The US is responsible for over 9,400 orbital debris, Russia/USSR over 8,400 and China for 4,478. About 220 parts orbiting the Earth are due to Indian rocket launches and ASATs carried out in 2019. The test attack by India was criticized as an incident that would increase the amount of space debris. More than 400 pieces of debris emerged from the event, but only one remains in orbit. The rest re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up
costly improvements
The chart shows the escalating collision avoidance maneuvers undertaken by India to bypass the orbital debris. The country made 19 reforms in 2021, which is the highest ever
ESA: European Space Agency, TBD: To be decided, ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Source: ISRO, Space-track, Orbital Debris Quarterly News
Read also: ISRO to speed up tracking of space debris