Space debris is a tragedy of the commons in orbit. Examine India's approach, from Debris-Free Space Missions to Active Debris Removal, and its relevance to global space governance.

Orbit is a classic tragedy of the commons. Each operator gains from launching, but everyone shares the cost of the debris left behind. In 2024 alone, launches and break-ups added 3,665 catalogued objects to orbit [2]. India is now moving from only preventing debris to also removing it.

Mitigation: Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM)

• Under ISRO's DFSM, all Indian space actors, government and private, are to fly debris-free missions by 2030 [1].
• India has shown this can work: the PSLV-C58/POEM-3 mission left practically zero debris in orbit [4].
• ISRO's IS4OM compiles the annual ISSAR, which gives India its own tracking of orbital objects [2].

Remediation: Active Debris Removal (ADR)

• The startup Cosmoserve Space opened Base 1 in Hyderabad, which has labs for approaching and capturing objects in orbit. Its Mission EMBRACE tested soft robotic capture petals in space [5].
• The same technology can service live satellites in orbit. This gives ADR a business case in an ecosystem of nearly 450 space startups [5].

Limitations

• Narrow scope: DFSM covers only Indian missions. A single Chinese CZ-6A rocket-stage break-up added about 650 objects in 2024 [2].
• Old debris: 33 pieces from India's own 2001 PSLV-C3 break-up were still in orbit at the end of 2025 [3].
• No space law: the Space Activities Bill was still at pre-legislative consultation, although UN treaties make India liable for damage by its space objects [6]. Who is liable when a capture goes wrong is still unclear.
• Dual-use concern: a robot that can capture debris could also be used against satellites, which raises trust concerns.

Relevance to global space governance

• Leading by example: ISRO announced DFSM at the 42nd IADC meeting in Bengaluru [1]. This positions India as a model for newer spacefaring nations.
• Moving from voluntary to shared rules: global debris guidelines are voluntary, so India's actual practice can help turn them into accepted norms.
• Cleaning its own debris first: removing Indian objects avoids disputes over ownership and consent, and fits the "Vishwa bandhu Bharat" idea of space as a shared good [5].

India's approach combines prevention through DFSM with early-stage removal through ADR. The way forward is to:

• pass a space law that licenses in-orbit operations;
• use ISSAR to choose which Indian objects to remove first;
• announce capture missions openly in advance.

This would make the 2030 vision a model for protecting the orbital commons, in the spirit of SDG 17's global partnership.