India will soon have its own satellites to monitor spy satellites. How the technology works
TDT | agencies
Spy satellites to monitor other spy satellites. India will soon have its own constellation of satellites to keep an eye out for other satellites that might be surveilling India.
The project being undertaken by the Defence Ministry, which is in the process of being finalised, will have 'satellite mapping' capabilities and will be fully made in India, senior officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told ThePrint.
'India will be focusing on improving its presence in space in the coming years. This initiative will be a part of that larger aim,' a senior ISRO official said.
This network of satellites will enhance India's space domain awareness and will also help monitor orbital threats in real-time. The project is being overseen under NETRA, a Network for Tracking Space Objects and Analysis, which detects space debris and other hazardous space objects.
The official said that while ISRO will partner with the MoD in overseeing the overall design and monitoring of these satellites, a private Bengaluru-based space start-up, Digantara, has been contracted to deploy these satellites within the next year.
How does satellite mapping work?
The capabilities of monitoring foreign satellites is being acquired by countries including the US, Russia and China.
These satellites have propulsion and guidance systems that utilise factors such as orbital inclinations and altitudes to get information and photographs from a potential target satellite. Some of these satellites are also capable of intercepting inter-satellite communications and links to ground stations.
Varying versions of such technology are either already deployed or are currently being tested. In 2020, the US Space Command—an agency responsible for tracking all objects in orbit—flagged that the Russian satellite Kosmos 2543 had released an unknown object into space. This was believed to be a test of a new technology that could be used to destroy objects already in orbit.
The Russian satellite released this tech in close proximity to another Russian satellite.
'Space is increasingly becoming a weapon for countries. Battles will no longer be limited to just the ground, but will also be fought in space. And countries need to be ready for it,' the ISRO official said.
Focus on active orbital security
India is already working on increasing its defence capabilities in space.Its next 'spy satellite programme', spacebased surveillance-3 or SBS-3, will launch a constellation of 52 surveillance satellites in the coming two years. Three private space startups, Ananth Technologies, Centum Electronics and Alpha Design Technologies, have joined hands with the government to give shape to this project. The Rs 27,000 crore project is set to significantly improve India's national security capabilities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
16 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
India will soon have its own satellites to monitor spy satellites. How the technology works
TDT | agencies Spy satellites to monitor other spy satellites. India will soon have its own constellation of satellites to keep an eye out for other satellites that might be surveilling India. The project being undertaken by the Defence Ministry, which is in the process of being finalised, will have 'satellite mapping' capabilities and will be fully made in India, senior officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told ThePrint. 'India will be focusing on improving its presence in space in the coming years. This initiative will be a part of that larger aim,' a senior ISRO official said. This network of satellites will enhance India's space domain awareness and will also help monitor orbital threats in real-time. The project is being overseen under NETRA, a Network for Tracking Space Objects and Analysis, which detects space debris and other hazardous space objects. The official said that while ISRO will partner with the MoD in overseeing the overall design and monitoring of these satellites, a private Bengaluru-based space start-up, Digantara, has been contracted to deploy these satellites within the next year. How does satellite mapping work? The capabilities of monitoring foreign satellites is being acquired by countries including the US, Russia and China. These satellites have propulsion and guidance systems that utilise factors such as orbital inclinations and altitudes to get information and photographs from a potential target satellite. Some of these satellites are also capable of intercepting inter-satellite communications and links to ground stations. Varying versions of such technology are either already deployed or are currently being tested. In 2020, the US Space Command—an agency responsible for tracking all objects in orbit—flagged that the Russian satellite Kosmos 2543 had released an unknown object into space. This was believed to be a test of a new technology that could be used to destroy objects already in orbit. The Russian satellite released this tech in close proximity to another Russian satellite. 'Space is increasingly becoming a weapon for countries. Battles will no longer be limited to just the ground, but will also be fought in space. And countries need to be ready for it,' the ISRO official said. Focus on active orbital security India is already working on increasing its defence capabilities in next 'spy satellite programme', spacebased surveillance-3 or SBS-3, will launch a constellation of 52 surveillance satellites in the coming two years. Three private space startups, Ananth Technologies, Centum Electronics and Alpha Design Technologies, have joined hands with the government to give shape to this project. The Rs 27,000 crore project is set to significantly improve India's national security capabilities.
Biz Bahrain
a day ago
- Biz Bahrain
NBB and Batelco by Beyon Sign Strategic Agreement to Empower Businesses with Integrated Digital Solutions
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Batelco by Beyon, to deliver integrated service packages to their business clients. This strategic partnership marks a significant step in advancing Bahrain's digital economy by combining secure fintech services with comprehensive connectivity offerings. The agreement will allow Batelco to offer its corporate customers a bundled suite of services that includes its range of connectivity solutions alongside 'NBB GO', the Bank's SoftPOS application. The collaboration aims to provide a seamless one-stop solution for businesses, enabling them to manage both their connectivity and payment processing needs with greater ease and efficiency. Commenting on the occasion, Hisham AlKurdi, Group Chief Executive – Markets & Client Solutions at NBB said, 'This partnership represents a powerful alignment of two national institutions working together to deliver meaningful value to businesses across Bahrain. By integrating NBB GO into Batelco's bundled offerings, we are enabling entrepreneurs and SMEs to benefit from a streamlined, secure, and efficient payment solution that complements their communication needs. It is a significant step towards creating a digitally inclusive ecosystem where innovation and ease-of-use are at the forefront of service delivery.' For his part, Abdulla Danesh, General Manager of Enterprise at Batelco stated, 'This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to rethinking how businesses across Bahrain access and utilise digital services. By joining hands with NBB, we are combining secure payment technologies with advanced connectivity solutions to deliver a comprehensive experience for our enterprise clients. It highlights how we are focused on enriching their capabilities to embrace innovation, operate more effectively, and contribute to the Kingdom's broader developmental objectives.' NBB GO is an innovative Android-based solution that transforms any NFC-enabled smartphone into a secure POS terminal, allowing businesses to accept contactless card and mobile wallet payments without the need for traditional point-of-sale devices. Offered as an app on the Google Play Store, it provides an accessible, secure, and cost-effective way for merchants to modernise their payment infrastructure and embrace cashless transactions. With connectivity and fintech services packaged together, businesses can enhance their operational capabilities, reduce overheads, and deliver a better experience to their customers. The collaboration reflects both organisations' dedication to supporting economic development by equipping businesses with forward-looking tools that drive convenience, security, and scalability. Through this initiative, NBB and Beyon continue to empower Bahraini enterprises and contribute to the broader vision of a cashless, digitally advanced ecosystem.
Bahrain This Week
a day ago
- Bahrain This Week
NBB and Batelco by Beyon Partner to Deliver Integrated Digital Solutions for Businesses
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Batelco by Beyon, to deliver integrated service packages to their business clients. This strategic partnership marks a significant step in advancing Bahrain's digital economy by combining secure fintech services with comprehensive connectivity offerings. The agreement will allow Batelco to offer its corporate customers a bundled suite of services that includes its range of connectivity solutions alongside 'NBB GO', the Bank's SoftPOS application. The collaboration aims to provide a seamless one-stop solution for businesses, enabling them to manage both their connectivity and payment processing needs with greater ease and efficiency. Commenting on the occasion, Hisham AlKurdi, Group Chief Executive – Markets & Client Solutions at NBB said, 'This partnership represents a powerful alignment of two national institutions working together to deliver meaningful value to businesses across Bahrain. By integrating NBB GO into Batelco's bundled offerings, we are enabling entrepreneurs and SMEs to benefit from a streamlined, secure, and efficient payment solution that complements their communication needs. It is a significant step towards creating a digitally inclusive ecosystem where innovation and ease-of-use are at the forefront of service delivery.' For his part, Abdulla Danesh, General Manager of Enterprise at Batelco stated, 'This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to rethinking how businesses across Bahrain access and utilise digital services. By joining hands with NBB, we are combining secure payment technologies with advanced connectivity solutions to deliver a comprehensive experience for our enterprise clients. It highlights how we are focused on enriching their capabilities to embrace innovation, operate more effectively, and contribute to the Kingdom's broader developmental objectives.' NBB GO is an innovative Android-based solution that transforms any NFC-enabled smartphone into a secure POS terminal, allowing businesses to accept contactless card and mobile wallet payments without the need for traditional point-of-sale devices. Offered as an app on the Google Play Store, it provides an accessible, secure, and cost-effective way for merchants to modernise their payment infrastructure and embrace cashless transactions. With connectivity and fintech services packaged together, businesses can enhance their operational capabilities, reduce overheads, and deliver a better experience to their customers. The collaboration reflects both organisations' dedication to supporting economic development by equipping businesses with forward-looking tools that drive convenience, security, and scalability. Through this initiative, NBB and Beyon continue to empower Bahraini enterprises and contribute to the broader vision of a cashless, digitally advanced ecosystem.
