Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) releases Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2023

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ISSAR for 2023, compiled by ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM), indicated a steady growth in the space object population.
- IS4OM has been operational since 2022 to safeguard ISRO’s space assets.

Key Highlights:
- Global Scenario: During 2023, more objects (3143 objects) were placed in orbit compared to 2022 (2533 objects).
  - There were five major on-orbit break-up events in 2023, adding to space debris.
- Indian Scenario: From the start of India’s space journey until 31^st December 2023, 127 Indian satellites have been sent into space.
  - In 2023, all seven launches of ISRO including Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L-1 were successful.
- Risk to Space Assets: There is increasing trend in Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAMs) to safeguard the operational spacecraft in case of close approaches by other space objects.

Concerns with Space Object population growth:
- Risks to spacecraft operations: India had to carry out 23 CAMs to protect Indian space assets.
- Kessler syndrome: Phenomenon in which the junk in orbit around Earth reaches a point where it just creates more and more space debris.
- Threat to astronauts’ lives due to space debris.

Space Object Proximity Analysis (SOPA) for Satellites: Prediction of close approaches through IS4OM/ ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC).
Collision Avoidance Analysis (COLA) for Launch Vehicles
ISRO’s NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA) project
Controlled re-entry of decommissioned satellites/spacecrafts
International Cooperation such as Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) with 13 space agencies.