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NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is setting up a network of telescopes and radar to develop its own system to monitor space debris to safeguard its space assets. The network will be set up under the Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management. Currently, Isro has 50 functional satellites, including communication, navigation and surveillance satellites, in space.

Talking to TOI, Isro chairman K Sivan said, “Till now, Isro was dependent on Norad (North America Aerospace Defense Command) data, which is available in public domain, for keeping track of space debris and monitoring our active and passive (dead) satellites. However, this global data is not accurate. Norad also keeps accurate data, which is exclusively available to those that are members of its network. Therefore, Isro can’t access this data.”

To get accurate data about the movement of space debris to avoid collision with its satellites, Isro has decided to set up telescopes and radars in four corners of the country.

“Our sophisticated multi-object tracking radar installed in Nellore (90km from Sriharikota ) will be part of this project. We will also set up a telescope in Ponmudi ( Thiruvananthapuram ) and second one in Mount Abu (Rajasthan) and third one in deep north. We will also install a radar in the northeast,” Sivan told TOI, adding, “Once this network is operational, we will be able to get accurate data on space debris and will also become part of the global network where we can access very accurate data on debris from hundreds of radars set up across the world.” The directorate would monitor inactive satellites, pieces of orbiting objects, near-earth asteroids and adverse space weather conditions.



In Video: New ISRO system to shield its assets from space debris