Uncontrolled Part Of Chandrayaan-3 Rocket Returns To Earth's Atmosphere

According to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the 'cryogenic' upper part of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle, which successfully carried Chandrayaan-3 into the designated orbit, made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on 15 November 2023.

• Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was launched on 14 July 2023. The rocket's return occurred 124 days after the launch of Chandrayaan-3.

At which place on Earth is the rocket part likely to fall?

• According to ISRO, the probable impact point has been estimated over the North Pacific Ocean.
• To remove all residual propellant and energy sources to reduce the risk of sudden explosions, as per the space debris mitigation guidelines set by the United Nations and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) following the launch of Chandrayaan-3. The upper stage was also 'deactivated'.
• According to ISRO, the deactivation and post-mission disposal of this rocket body in compliance with internationally accepted guidelines once again reaffirms India's commitment to maintaining the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
• Thus, the post-mission orbital lifetime of the LVM3 M4 cryogenic upper stage is fully in compliance with the "25-year rule" for Earth orbit objects, as recommended by the IADC.

Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC):

• The IADC is an international authoritative forum established in 1993 to coordinate efforts among space exploration nations to address the issue of space debris.

Space Junk/Debris:

• Space junk refers to man-made objects in Earth orbit that no longer serve any useful purpose in space.
• Space debris includes spent rockets, defunct satellites, fragments of space bodies, and debris generated from anti-satellite systems (ASATs).

Potential dangers of space debris:

• Floating debris in space is a potential threat to operational satellites because collisions with these debris can destroy satellites.
• The accumulation of space debris in specific orbital regions may limit the availability of desired orbital slots for future missions.
• The surge in space debris complicates the task for satellite operators and space agencies, heightening the difficulty of precisely tracking and predicting orbital paths.

Indian initiative to curb space debris:

• ISRO established the System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management in 2022 to monitor objects with potential collision threats in space, assess the potential for space debris growth, and mitigate the risk posed by space debris.
• 'Project NETRA' is an early warning system deployed in space to detect debris and other potential threats to Indian satellites.

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