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Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Isro saved satellites from potential collision 10 times in 2024
Photo/Agencies NEW DELHI: Isro successfully performed 10 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAMs) in 2024 to protect its satellites from potential collision with other objects in space, according to the newly released Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2024. The space agency performs Space Situational Awareness (SSA) activities to protect national space assets from space environmental hazards, such as resident space objects, including space debris, natural objects like asteroids and meteoroids, energy and particle flux. Last year, 89 manoeuvre plans were revised to avoid post-manoeuvre close approaches with other space objects for low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. On two occasions, manoeuvre plans had to be revised to avoid post-manoeuvre conjunctions for Geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites, it said. Overall, Isro has carried out 122 CAMs for its earth-orbiting satellites in the last 14 years. The agency said more than 53,000 alerts issued by Combined Space Operations Center of US Space Command for Isro's earth-orbiting satellites were analysed using more accurate orbital data from flight dynamics. Data shows that between 2010 and 2024, 122 CAMs were conducted and a maximum 23 were carried out between 2022 and 2023. Between 2023 and 2024, there were 10 CAMs. 'The number of CAMs was less in 2024 compared to the previous year. This is because improved close approach analysis methodology with larger conjunction screening volume and usage of more accurate ephemerides helped to meet collision avoidance requirements by adjusting orbit maintenance manoeuvres on several occasions and avoiding exclusive CAMs,' Isro explained. About the return of satellites once they complete their mission, Isro said a total of 31 Indian satellites had re-entered the atmosphere till the end of 2024. In 2024 alone, nine Indian satellites did so. Among them was Cartosat-2, which re-entered the atmosphere on Feb 14, 2024, being Isro's first-ever LEO to be deorbited at end-of-life to reduce its post-mission orbital life from more than 30 years to less than four years. A total of 136 Indian spacecraft, including those from private operators and academic institutions, were launched in Earth-orbit till Dec 31, 2024. The number of operational satellites owned by India stood at 22 in lower earth orbit (LEO) and 31 in geo-synchronous earth orbit (GEO) by 2024 end. In addition, two Indian deep space missions, Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter and Aditya-L1 at Sun-Earth Lagrange's point, were active. Isro said 34 rocket bodies re-entered the Earth's atmosphere till 2024 end, and five of such re-entries took place in 2024.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
ISRO carried out 122 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres in 14 years
ISRO has conducted 122 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres for its Earth Orbiting Satellites over the past 14 years, with a peak of 23 manoeuvres between 2022 and 2023. The agency analyzes close approaches using data from the US Space Command and its own flight dynamics. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Science 1. India to develop two-seater electric trainer aircraft: Jitendra Singh ISRO has said it has carried out 122 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAM) for its Earth Orbiting Satellites in the last 14 its Space Situational Assessment Report, the Indian Space Research Organisation said it regularly carries out analyses to predict close approaches by other space objects to Indian space case of any critical close approach, CAMs are carried out for the operational spacecraft to mitigate the collision risk, it space agency said that more than 53,000 alerts issued by the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC) of the US Space Command for ISRO's earth orbiting satellites were analysed using more accurate orbital data from flight shows that since 2010 to 2024, 122 CAMs were conducted and the maximum 23 were carried out between 2022 and 2023. Between 2023 and 2024, 10 CAMs were conducted."The number of CAMs was less in 2024 compared to the previous year. This is because improved close approach analysis methodology with larger conjunction screening volume and usage of more accurate ephemerides helped to meet collision avoidance requirements by adjusting orbit maintenance manoeuvres on several occasions and avoiding exclusive CAMs," ISRO also said that a total of 136 Indian spacecraft, including those from private operators or academic institutions, were launched in Earth-orbit till December 31, number of operational satellites owned by the Government of India is 22 in Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) and 31 in Geo-synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) by the end of addition, two Indian deep space missions, namely, Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter (CH2O) and Aditya-L1 at Sun-Earth Lagrange's point were also active."The propulsion module of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft continued to operate in a high Earth orbit (more than 1 lakh km away) after being relocated from its lunar orbit since Nov 2023," the statement said 34 rocket bodies re-entered the Earth's atmosphere till 2024 end, and five of such re-entries took place in 2024."A total of 31 Indian satellites have re-entered the atmosphere till the end of 2024. In 2024 alone, nine Indian satellites re-entered the atmosphere. Among them was Cartosat-2, which re-entered the atmosphere on February 14, 2024," the space agency said.
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's space ambitions ‘forcing' Washington's Golden Dome strategy: commander
The head of US Space Command has warned that China's expanding arsenal of anti-satellite weapons is forcing Washington to accelerate defences in orbit, calling the threat 'real' and immediate, amid growing scrutiny of President Donald Trump's proposed missile shield. Advertisement General Stephen Whiting told a public forum in Chicago on Thursday that the ambitious defence system known as the Golden Dome was a response to how China had spent the past three decades preparing to target American space infrastructure. 'They have built capabilities to hold at risk our space systems,' he said. 'Golden Dome is part of making sure we're ready.' Whiting said Beijing's strategy included deploying weapons in orbit, developing jamming systems and fielding kinetic anti-satellite missiles – all with the explicit aim of blinding and disrupting US military operations during a crisis. 'China has ambitions to be the world's greatest space power,' he said. 'And they are backing that up with action.' Advertisement Unveiled this week with an initial US$25 billion investment, the Golden Dome is a sweeping plan to build a layered missile defence architecture to protect the US from long-range and hypersonic threats.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Kosmos 482: Out-of-control Russian spacecraft probably just fell to Earth, experts say
An out-of-control Russian spacecraft has probably plummeted to Earth, after 53 years stuck in orbit, experts say. In recent weeks, the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 has been making an uncontrolled approach towards Earth. Experts have been tracking it since – though they noted that it was very unlikely that it would land over a populated era. Now, the European Space Agency and others say the spacecraft has most likely hit the Earth. It was not spotted on its most recent pass over radar in Germany, the agency said, and predictions based on its orbit and previous location suggest that it would probably have already fallen to Earth. As of Saturday morning, the US Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecraft's demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit. But it remains unclear when and where exactly it dropped down. The spacecraft was originally made to land on Venus, and was built to survive the extreme atmosphere there. But it was hit by technical problems during its launch, and got stuck in orbit around Earth. For the 53 years since, it has been floating around our planet until its orbit collided with the Earth. Since the spacecraft was made to land on the hot and high-pressure planet of Venus, experts have speculated that it could have survived the descent through Earth's atmosphere, rather than breaking up like many other uncontrolled descents. But experts said it was likely to come down over water, covering most of the world, or a desolate region. The odds of it slamming into a populated area are 'infinitesimally small', said University of Colorado Boulder scientist Marcin Pilinski. 'While we can anticipate that most of this object will not burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry, it may be severely damaged on impact,' Mr Pilinski said. By Friday, all indications pointed to a re-entry early on Saturday morning, US Eastern Time, give or take several hours. While space debris trackers around the world converged in their forecasts, it was still too soon to know exactly when and where the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 would come down. That uncertainty was due to potential solar activity and the spacecraft's old condition. Its parachutes were expected to be useless by now and its batteries long dead. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek estimated the impact speed at 150mph if the spacecraft remains intact. The Soviets launched Kosmos 482 in 1972, intending to send it to Venus to join other spacecraft in their Venera programme. But a rocket malfunction left this one stuck in orbit around Earth. Gravity kept tugging on it and was expected to finally cause its doom. Spherical in shape, the spacecraft – 3ft (one metre) across and packing more than 1,000lb (495kg) – will be the last piece of Kosmos 482 to fall from the sky. All the other parts plummeted within a decade.
9 News
10-05-2025
- Science
- 9 News
Soviet-era spacecraft plunges to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A Soviet-era spacecraft has plunged to Earth, more than a half-century after its failed launch to Venus. Its uncontrolled entry was confirmed by both the Russian Space Agency and European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking. The Russians indicated it came down over the Indian Ocean, but some experts were not so sure of the precise location. Pictured: The Venera module, similar to Kosmos 482. (NASA) The European Space Agency's space debris office also tracked the spacecraft's doom after it failed to appear over a German radar station. It was not immediately known how much, if any, of the half-tonne spacecraft survived the fiery descent from orbit. Experts said ahead of time that some if not all of it might come crashing down, given it was built to withstand a landing on Venus, the solar system's hottest planet. The chances of anyone getting clobbered by spacecraft debris were exceedingly low, scientists said. Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction. Much of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch. The spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. (AP) No longer able to resist gravity's tug as its orbit dwindled, the spherical lander – an estimated 3 feet (1 metre) across – was the last part of the spacecraft to come down. The lander was encased in titanium, according to experts, and weighed more than 1000 pounds (495 kilograms). Any surviving wreckage will belong to Russia under a United Nations treaty. After following the spacecraft's downward spiral, scientists, military experts and others could not pinpoint in advance precisely when or where the spacecraft might come down. Solar activity added to the uncertainty as well as the spacecraft's deteriorating condition after so long in space. After so much anticipation, some observers were disappointed by the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft's grave. 'If it was over the Indian Ocean, only the whales saw it,' Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek said via X. As of Saturday afternoon, the US Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecraft's demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit. The US Space Command routinely monitors dozens of reentries each month. What set Kosmos 482 apart – and earned it extra attention from government and private space trackers – was that it was more likely to survive reentry, according to officials. It was also coming in uncontrolled, without any intervention by flight controllers who normally target the Pacific and other vast expanses of water for old satellites and other space debris. space Russia USA Astronomy Europe World CONTACT US
