ISRO Releases ISSAR 2024: Space Debris Rises, Debris-Free Mission by 2030 Announced

Description

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) published the 2024 edition of the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) on April 22, 2025. This report highlights India’s progress in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and the country’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its space-based assets from potential threats such as space debris and natural space objects. The ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management (IS4OM) is the nodal body responsible for overseeing these protective measures.

Monitoring Risks In Space

ISRO’s SSA program focuses on identifying and managing risks that could impact space infrastructure. The activities include monitoring potential collisions between space objects and predicting re-entry of defunct satellites or components into the Earth’s atmosphere. ISSAR is an annual publication aimed at informing relevant agencies and experts about the status of the space environment.

Global Launch Trends In 2024

The year 2024 witnessed 261 global launch attempts, out of which 254 were successful, resulting in the deployment of 2,578 operational satellites. Although this marks a high point in launch activity, the total number of orbital objects placed was lower than in 2023 due to fewer actual launches.

Increase In Space Debris

In 2024, three fragmentation events in orbit primarily caused by the break-up of a Long March rocket stage—contributed significantly to the accumulation of space debris. By the end of the year, the total number of tracked debris objects had reached 3,665, underscoring the growing challenges in space debris management.

India's Orbital Presence

As of December 2024, India had launched a total of 136 spacecraft. This includes 22 active satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 31 in Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO). Prominent Indian missions such as the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter and Aditya-L1 continue to function effectively.

Collision Risk Mitigation

ISRO employs Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAMs) to reduce the risk of satellite collisions. In 2024, the agency generated over 53,000 alerts related to potential close encounters and carried out 10 CAMs. Ongoing improvements in predictive models have helped limit the number of required manoeuvres.

Strengthening Global Collaboration

India actively engages with global stakeholders to address space sustainability challenges. Through its membership in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), ISRO contributes to international guidelines and efforts for debris reduction and long-term space safety.

Toward A Debris-Free Orbit

India has announced its ambition to implement a Debris Free Space Mission by 2030. This initiative includes stricter adherence to end-of-life protocols for satellites and aims to significantly shorten the duration that inactive satellites remain in orbit.

Advancing SSA With NETRA

With the increasing density of satellites particularly in LEO India is scaling up its SSA infrastructure. The NEtwork for space objects TRacking and Analysis (NETRA) project will play a vital role by deploying advanced optical and radar systems to improve space object tracking and enhance early warning capabilities.

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