Space Junk

Why in news?

Recently, ISRO’s rocket debris was found washing the shores of beach of Jurian Bay in Western Australia.

How space junks are produced?

• Space junk refers to the dead and unwanted craft left behind in the finite space of Earth orbit for decades.
• Sources - Unoperational / Expired / Exploded satellites, rocket parts or spacecraft
• Anti-satellite tests that incapacitates or destroys satellites for strategic or tactical purposes (like Mission Shakti conducted by DRDO, China’s 2007 ASAT test,etc.)
• Rare collision between two spacecrafts
• Mega-constellations of satellites planned by companies such as SpaceX ‘sStarlink project.

What is the current issue?

• A large object was found on the shores of Western Australia has been confirmed to be the debris of an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket.
• ISRO has agreed with the assessment, saying the debris could be from one of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rockets.
• The object was most likely an unburnt part of the PSLV rocket that launched a navigation satellite for the IRNSS constellation.
• Since that satellite was launched in the southward direction, it is possible that one of the parts of the rocket did not burn completely while dropping back into the atmosphere.
• This could have fell into the ocean which later have been swept towards Australian shore.
• The future course of action will be taken after considering obligations under United Nations Space Treaties.

What are the regulations available to deal with space junk?

• Outer Space treaty, 1967- India is a signatory to this treaty which tells that States shall be liable for the damage caused by their space objects.
• Liability Convention, 1972- It is the convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.
• It deals with
  • Damage caused by space objects to other space assets
  • Damage caused by falling objects on earth.

• It makes the launching country “absolutely liable” to pay compensation for any damage caused by its space object on the earth or to a flight in air.
• The country where the junk falls can stake a claim for compensation if it has been damaged by the falling object.
• International Space Law points that if a satellite becomes dysfunctional, then the satellite should deorbit and its re-entry into the earth should be carried.

With the provision of Liability Convention, Canada sought damages from the then Soviet Union, for a satellite with radioactive substance that fell into an uninhabited region in its northern territory in 1978.

What lies ahead?

• Reliable data- The collision risk in the space can be tracked effectively with the reliable data.
• Improve technology- There is a need to improve technology in tracking models to increase the accuracy.
• Better coordination- With increasing number of active satellitesnew approaches including automation and established “rights of way” may be necessary.
• Minimize debris growth- It can be achieved through a combination of regulation, voluntary actions, and international agreements.
• Debris mitigation and removal- Passive deorbiting debris and active deorbiting debris requires proper mitigation mechanism.
• Update Outer Space Treaty 1967- It grants countries permanent property rights to their objects in space complicating the efforts to clean up debris.

References

1. Indian Express| Explained ISRO debris in Australia
2. Indian Express| Mysterious object washed up the shores