Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meeting held

Posted 17 Apr 2024

Updated 22 Apr 2024

2 min read

In the meeting, the ISRO Chief announced that India aims to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030.
Space debris refers to all non-functional, artificial objects, in Earth's orbit or re-entering into Earth’s atmosphere.

Need for mitigating space debris
- Threat to space exploration: Collisions with debris can disable an operational spacecraft, smaller debris can scour components like optics and solar panels, etc.
- Kessler syndrome: Uncontrolled growth of debris can lead to an escalating cascade of collisions, known as the Kessler syndrome
- Risk to life on Earth: Large space debris that reenter the atmosphere in an uncontrolled way can survive reentry to reach Earth’s surface, creating risk to the population on the ground.

Initiatives for space debris mitigation
- By ISRO
  - ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) for efficient information on on-orbit collision, fragmentation, etc.
  - Project NETRA (Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis) for Establishing a space surveillance and tracking network with RADARS and Optical Telescopes.
- Global
  - REMOVEDEBRIS to perform key active debris removal (ADR) technology demonstrations.
  - UN Liability Convention (Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Object), 1972
  - UN Registration Convention (Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space), 1976

Genesis: Established in 1993 as an international forum for space agencies, organizations, and governmental bodies.
Purpose:
- Exchange information on space debris research activities between member space agencies.
- Facilitate opportunities for cooperation in space debris research.
- Identify debris mitigation options.
Function: IADC provides technical recommendations to the world space communities. It is not a regulatory organization.
Members: Space agencies of 13 countries including India (ISRO), US (NASA), Russia, France, UK, EU, China, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Ukraine, and Italy.