ISSAR 2025 Report: Rising Space Debris Risks and India’s Mitigation Efforts

The Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) 2025, highlighting the growing challenge of space debris, was released during the three-day International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS–2026) held in Bengaluru.

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Key Highlights

• Launch of Indian Space Assets (2025): Eight satellites were launched and four rocket bodies were placed in orbit. 
• Re-entry and Decommissioning: 12 Indian objects re-entered the atmosphere. 
  • It added that the IRNSS-1 D satellite was decommissioned 600 km above geosynchronous orbit.
• Orbital Activity: The report stated that a total of 4,651 objects were launched into orbit and 1,911 re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Space Weather and Launch Delay: The report also accounted for severe geomagnetic storms and a 41-second delay in the launch of the LVM-3-M6 mission.
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Status: The presence of 86 Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOS), of which 27 are operational and 23 defunct. 
• Geostationary Orbit Satellite Status: There are also 32 operational Geostationary Earth Orbit satellites in space, of which 26 are defunct. 
• Rocket Body Debris: On Indian rocket bodies, the report pointed out that there were 42 parts of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rockets, three parts of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) and four of Geostationary Satellite
• Collision Avoidance Measures: The four cases of collision avoidance each were noted in the LEO and geostationary earth orbit missions.

About Space Debris

• Space debris (also called orbital debris or “space junk”) refers to non-functional, human-made objects orbiting the Earth that no longer serve any useful purpose

Types of Space Debris 

• Defunct Satellites: These are non-operational satellites that remain in orbit after the end of their functional life.
• Rocket Bodies: These consist of spent stages of launch vehicles, such as PSLV and GSLV, that are left in space after payload deployment.
• Fragmentation Debris: This includes small pieces generated due to on-orbit collisions or explosions caused by residual fuel or battery failures.
• Mission-related Objects: These are objects such as tools, bolts, lens caps, and other materials that are accidentally released or lost during space missions.

Why is Space Debris a Concern? 

• High Velocity Threat: Space debris travels at extremely high speeds (around 28,000 km/h), due to which even tiny fragments can cause severe damage or complete destruction of operational satellites.
• Risk to Active Satellites: The presence of debris increases the likelihood of collisions, threatening the functioning and longevity of active satellites.
• Threat to Space Missions: Space debris poses significant danger to crewed and uncrewed missions, including platforms like the International Space Station.
• Kessler Syndrome: Accumulation of debris can trigger a cascading chain reaction of collisions, known as the Kessler Syndrome, making certain orbits unusable.
  • For example, in 2009, a defunct Russian satellite collided with an American weather satellite, producing thousands of debris fragments. 
• Economic Costs: The growing debris environment leads to increased costs for satellite shielding, collision avoidance maneuvers, and higher insurance premiums for space operations.

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Global Initiatives to Reduce Space Debris

• United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs: The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs has issued guidelines to promote the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and encourage the safe disposal of satellites after the completion of their mission life.
• Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee: It provides technical guidelines on space debris mitigation and recommends the “25-year rule” for deorbiting satellites after the end of their operational life.
• Active Debris Removal (ADR): Active Debris Removal initiatives focus on eliminating existing space debris through advanced technologies.
  • Missions such as ClearSpace-1 aim to capture and remove debris using methods like robotic arms, nets, and harpoons.
• Legal and Normative Framework: The Outer Space Treaty establishes that nations bear responsibility for objects launched into outer space.

India’s Initiatives

• Project NETRA: ISRO has initiated Project NETRA to develop indigenous Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities.
  • It aims to track space debris and predict potential collision risks to safeguard operational satellites.
• ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management (IS 4 OM): It was established in 2022 to continuously monitor objects that pose collision risks. 
• Debris-Free Space Mission (DFSM) 2030: ISRO has launched the Debris-Free Space Mission (DFSM) 2030 as a long-term initiative to ensure that India’s space activities are debris-neutral by 2030.

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Way Forward

• Strengthening Global Cooperation and Regulations: There is a need to enhance international cooperation and move towards binding global regulations for effective space debris mitigation.
  • For instance, frameworks under the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee can be strengthened to ensure compliance by all space-faring nations.
• Promoting Active Debris Removal Technologies: Countries should invest in and deploy Active Debris Removal (ADR) technologies to eliminate existing space junk.
  • For example, missions like ClearSpace-1 aim to capture and remove defunct satellites using robotic arms and other advanced techniques.
• Enhancing Data Sharing and SSA Systems: Improved Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems and real-time data sharing are essential to track debris and prevent collisions.
  • Initiatives such as ISRO’s Project NETRA and global tracking networks can significantly enhance monitoring capabilities

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