PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPACE DEBRIS MANAGEMENT

1. At a Glance

• Space debris = defunct human-made objects in orbit (dead satellites, spent rocket bodies, fragmentation debris) that threaten operational assets via hypervelocity collision [1].
• India's response is anchored in ISRO's IS4OM (ISRO System for Safe & Sustainable Space Operations Management) and the Debris Free Space Mission (DFSM) targeting zero debris by 2030 [2].
• Relevant for GS-III (Sci-Tech, Space) and GS-II (international institutions — IADC, UNCOPUOS).

2. Why in the News

• Govt informed Parliament (Lok Sabha reply, 18 March 2026) that 129 trackable Indian-origin debris objects remain in orbit [1].
• Renewed focus on DFSM 2030 commitment first announced at the 42nd IADC Annual Meet, Bengaluru, 16 April 2024 [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1957 onwards — debris accumulation begins with the Space Age.
• 1993 — IADC (Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee) formed; ISRO is a founding member-class participant [2].
• 2007 — UN COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines adopted.
• 2022 — ISRO operationalises IS4OM at Bengaluru as nodal centre for SSA & debris mitigation [2].
• April 2024 — DFSM announced by then-ISRO Chairman S. Somanath at 42nd IADC meet [2].
• March 2026 — Parliament Q&A discloses 129 trackable Indian debris objects [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing body: ISRO / Department of Space (under PMO) [1].
• Nodal centre: IS4OM, Bengaluru [2].
• Indian trackable debris (Mar 2026): 129 total [1]
• Defunct satellites in LEO: 23; in GEO: 26
• Rocket bodies: PSLV 40, GSLV 4, LVM3 3

• Fragmentation debris from PSLV-C3 upper-stage break-up: 33 [1].

• Annual publication: Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) [1].

• DFSM target year: 2030; applies to all Indian actors — government & non-government [1][2].
• Post-mission disposal success rate mandated: >99%; controlled re-entry or de-orbit to <5 yr residual life [2].
• International frameworks aligned with: IADC guidelines & UNCOPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines [1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• Kessler syndrome risk — cascading collisions in LEO; mitigated via failure-mode studies, redundancy, passivation of upper stages [2].
• IS4OM uses conjunction assessment, re-entry analysis, orbital lifetime estimation [2].

Strategic / Geopolitical

• India remains exposed to debris from 2007 Chinese ASAT and 2021 Russian Nudol ASAT tests; ISRO's own 2019 Mission Shakti ASAT was conducted in low orbit (~283 km) for rapid decay [2].
• DFSM positions India as a responsible spacefaring power amid NewSpace privatisation under IN-SPACe [2].

Legal / Governance

• No binding international treaty on debris; reliance on soft-law UNCOPUOS guidelines and Outer Space Treaty 1967 (liability under Liability Convention 1972) [1].
• India's Indian Space Policy 2023 mandates debris-mitigation compliance for private players [2].

Economic

• Debris threatens commercial LEO constellations (Starlink, OneWeb-Eutelsat, India's planned constellations); insurance premiums rise.
• Active Debris Removal (ADR) emerging as a sunrise commercial vertical.

Environmental

• Atmospheric metal deposition from re-entries (aluminium oxide) — emerging stratospheric concern.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 16 Apr 2024 — DFSM unveiled at 42nd IADC Bengaluru [2].
• 2024 — PSLV-C37 upper stage re-entry demonstrated controlled disposal [2].
• 18 Mar 2026 — Parliament reply quantifying 129 trackable Indian debris [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• DFSM target year — 2030 [1].
• Nodal centre for debris mitigation — IS4OM (not NRSC, not SAC) [2].
• Annual report — ISSAR released by ISRO [1].
• 42nd IADC meet hosted by India at Bengaluru, April 2024 [2].
• IADC = Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (technical body, not UN) [2].
• UNCOPUOS = UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, based in Vienna [1].
• Indian-origin trackable debris (Mar 2026) — 129 [1].
• Fragmentation source — PSLV-C3 break-up contributing 33 fragments [1].
• Post-mission disposal success mandated by DFSM — >99% [2].
• Mission Shakti ASAT — 27 March 2019, ~283 km altitude.
• Parent department: Department of Space, directly under the Prime Minister [1].
• Liability for damage by space objects — Liability Convention 1972.

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Awareness in space; achievements of Indians in Sci-Tech.
• GS-II — Important international institutions (UNCOPUOS, IADC).
• Possible stems: 1. "Examine India's preparedness to manage space debris in light of the Debris Free Space Mission 2030." (250 words) 2. "Soft-law instruments are inadequate to govern the growing space-debris crisis. Discuss." (150 words) 3. "Discuss the role of IS4OM in ensuring sustainable use of outer space by India." (150 words)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Indian Space Policy 2023 — regulatory framework enabling DFSM compliance.
• IN-SPACe & NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) — private-sector debris obligations.
• Mission Shakti (2019) — ASAT and debris ethics.
• Outer Space Treaty 1967 & Liability Convention 1972 — legal regime.
• Kessler Syndrome — scientific principle behind cascade collisions.
• Gaganyaan & Bhartiya Antariksh Station (BAS-2035) — debris risk to crewed missions.
• NavIC / GSAT constellations — GEO debris implications.
• ITU spectrum & orbital slot allocation — adjacent governance issue.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• IADC ≠ UN body — it is an inter-space-agency technical forum; UNCOPUOS is the UN body.
• IS4OM is under ISRO/DoS, not MoEFCC or DRDO.
• DFSM target year is 2030, not 2035 (latter is Bharatiya Antariksh Station).
• ISSAR is published annually by ISRO, not by MoD or MEA.
• PSLV-C3 fragmentation (33 fragments) is the largest single source of Indian debris — easy to confuse with PSLV-C37.