{"id":2923,"date":"2019-04-05T10:32:16","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T05:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/?p=2923"},"modified":"2019-04-05T10:32:18","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T05:02:18","slug":"explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/","title":{"rendered":"Explanations: Space debris from Indian satellite: NASA\u2019s worry, and why risk is low"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Relevant for General Studies &amp; Essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >What's Inside this Blog!<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#According_to_the_European_Space_Agency_there_are_about_34000_objects_of_size_10_cm_or_above_in_space_another_90000_of_objects_of_sizes_between_1_and_10_cm_and_a_further_128_million_of_sizes_between_1_mm_and_10_mm\" title=\"According to the European Space Agency, there are about 34,000 objects of size 10 cm or above in space, another 90,000 of objects of sizes between 1 and 10 cm, and a further 128 million of sizes between 1 mm and 10 mm.\">According to the European Space Agency, there are about 34,000 objects of size 10 cm or above in space, another 90,000 of objects of sizes between 1 and 10 cm, and a further 128 million of sizes between 1 mm and 10 mm.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#So_why_exactly_is_NASA_unhappy\" title=\"So, why exactly is NASA unhappy?\">So, why exactly is NASA unhappy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#What_threat_could_small_pieces_pose_to_such_massive_infrastructure\" title=\"What threat could small pieces pose to such massive infrastructure?\">What threat could small pieces pose to such massive infrastructure?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#But_given_the_debris_already_in_space_has_the_ISS_not_been_at_risk_anyway\" title=\"But given the debris already in space, has the ISS not been at risk anyway?\">But given the debris already in space, has the ISS not been at risk anyway?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#In_that_case_how_does_the_debris_from_the_Indian_satellite_present_a_special_risk\" title=\"In that case, how does the debris from the Indian satellite present a special risk?\">In that case, how does the debris from the Indian satellite present a special risk?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#But_didnt_India_say_it_had_taken_care_to_prevent_the_problem_of_debris\" title=\"But didn\u2019t India say it had taken care to prevent the problem of debris?\">But didn\u2019t India say it had taken care to prevent the problem of debris?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#What_is_the_Indian_assessment_of_the_debris_produced\" title=\"What is the Indian assessment of the debris produced?\">What is the Indian assessment of the debris produced?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#The_US_has_itself_carried_out_several_anti-satellite_tests_Didnt_those_contribute_to_the_debris\" title=\"The US has itself carried out several anti-satellite tests. Didn\u2019t those contribute to the debris?\">The US has itself carried out several anti-satellite tests. Didn\u2019t those contribute to the debris?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/explanations-space-debris-from-indian-satellite-nasas-worry-and-why-risk-is-low\/#How_common_are_collisions_in_space\" title=\"How common are collisions in space?\">How common are collisions in space?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"According_to_the_European_Space_Agency_there_are_about_34000_objects_of_size_10_cm_or_above_in_space_another_90000_of_objects_of_sizes_between_1_and_10_cm_and_a_further_128_million_of_sizes_between_1_mm_and_10_mm\"><\/span>According to the European Space Agency, there are about 34,000 objects of size 10 cm or above in space, another 90,000 of objects of sizes between 1 and 10 cm, and a further 128 million of sizes between 1 mm and 10 mm.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"759\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space1.jpg 759w, https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space1-150x83.jpg 150w, https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space1-300x167.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>After the US government \u2014 and the rest of the world \u2014 had responded rather quietly to India\u2019s first anti-satellite missile test last week, the head of US space agency NASA came up with the first major international criticism Monday.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/nasa-says-400-pieces-of-debris-in-orbit-indias-asat-test-increased-risk-to-iss-by-44-5653898\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said the debris created by the test had increased the risk to the International Space Station (ISS).<\/a>\u00a0While he acknowledged that this risk was comparatively small and short-lived, he added that it was a \u201cterrible terrible thing\u201d for countries to \u201ccreate events that send debris\u201d close enough to the International Space Station.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_why_exactly_is_NASA_unhappy\"><\/span>So, why exactly is NASA unhappy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>On March 27, India demonstrated its capability for shooting down a satellite with a missile fired from the ground, becoming only the fourth country with such a capability. The satellite, which was one of India\u2019s own, was literally left in pieces \u2014 thousands of them. On Monday, Bridenstine said NASA had identified at least 400 pieces from the wreck, and was tracking 60 that were larger than 10 cm in size. He said 24 of these 60 had got near the ISS and thus posed a potential threat of collision.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The ISS is the world\u2019s only permanent laboratory in space. It is massive, spanning a little larger than a football field, and weighing over 400 tonnes. Hanging about 400 km above Earth\u2019s surface, the ISS carries extremely costly infrastructure, with facilities to host three to four astronauts at a time. It serves as a unique platform to carry out a variety of scientific experiments in space, especially those that require zero-gravity situations, and also for testing new space systems and technologies.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_threat_could_small_pieces_pose_to_such_massive_infrastructure\"><\/span>What threat could small pieces pose to such massive infrastructure?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The size and weight of the pieces are secondary. What is crucial is that these pieces move at very great speeds. In the low earth orbit, where the targeted Indian satellite was located, objects typically move at almost 8 metres per second, or 28,000 kph, in order to stay in their orbits. At such speeds, even a tiny object of just about 100 grams would produce the same kind of impact on collision as a 30-kg stone travelling at about 100 kph. The debris from the destroyed Indian satellite would be typically moving at these speeds. A collision with any other satellite in space could render that satellite dysfunctional, if not destroy it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space.jpg 576w, https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/space-298x300.jpg 298w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"But_given_the_debris_already_in_space_has_the_ISS_not_been_at_risk_anyway\"><\/span>But given the debris already in space, has the ISS not been at risk anyway?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The ISS, or any other satellite for that matter, is constantly at risk from space debris. Such risk increases or decreases depending on the paths taken by the moving pieces of space debris. Specialised NASA agencies track all the significantly large pieces, over 23,000 of them, as does a similar facility at European Space Agency. These continuously evaluate the risk, and ground control stations take evasive action if necessary.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The trajectory of the ISS is screened at least three times every day. If an object is assessed to have the potential to enter a space box of size 25 km \u00d7 25 km \u00d7 4 km (height) around the ISS, it is considered a potential threat. The probability of collision is computed and, if required, the ISS is navigated away from its normal trajectory. Such navigations are called Debris Avoidance Manoeuvres or DAMs; since 1999 the ISS has undergone 25 DAMs, the last time in 2015.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_that_case_how_does_the_debris_from_the_Indian_satellite_present_a_special_risk\"><\/span>In that case, how does the debris from the Indian satellite present a special risk?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It does not pose any special threat to ISS. The 24 additional pieces add to the risk profile of the ISS. Significantly, however, the NASA administrator said the risk to ISS had increased 44% \u201cin the last 10 days\u201d. Given that the Indian test was carried out only five days earlier, the statement appears to imply that the debris from the Indian satellite was not the only factor responsible for this increase in risk. Bridenstine also said that the probability of the ISS having to undertake a DAM because of the Indian satellite debris was \u201cvery low\u201d.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"759\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nasa.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nasa.jpg 759w, https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nasa-150x83.jpg 150w, https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nasa-300x167.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nNASA and European Space Agency have an elaborate network of radars and optical instruments across the globe to monitor and track the movement of space debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"But_didnt_India_say_it_had_taken_care_to_prevent_the_problem_of_debris\"><\/span>But didn\u2019t India say it had taken care to prevent the problem of debris?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>India had said that since the test was carried out in low-earth orbit at just about 300 km from Earth\u2019s surface, the debris created would decay and fall back on to the earth within weeks. Low-earth orbit at about 300 km has both atmosphere and gravity, though considerably weaker. Fragments of the Indian satellite are expected to lose their velocities due to the atmospheric drag and then fall towards Earth under gravity, and likely get burnt away due to air friction.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>However, immediately after a hit, it is not unexpected of some of the fragments to fly off in various directions. The satellite was in an orbit that was 283 km from Earth, while ISS is located at about 400 km. The difference between these orbital heights, however, does not alone reflect the distance between them, which is also a function of which points of their respective orbits they are in at a given time. In any case, the fragments from the Indian satellite were not expected to travel more than 50 km from the original trajectory after being hit. The NASA administrator has not said how close to the ISS the 24 pieces were located. So, it is not clear how big a risk these pose to the ISS.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Indian_assessment_of_the_debris_produced\"><\/span>What is the Indian assessment of the debris produced?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) does not have the resources or the capability to track space debris. It depends on NASA for information on debris to adjust the flight paths of its launches and existing assets in space. NASA and European Space Agency have an elaborate network of radars and optical instruments across the globe to monitor and track the movement of space debris.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_US_has_itself_carried_out_several_anti-satellite_tests_Didnt_those_contribute_to_the_debris\"><\/span>The US has itself carried out several anti-satellite tests. Didn\u2019t those contribute to the debris?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>These were all carried out much before space debris became a serious concern for the major space-faring countries. In recent times, only China has carried out an anti-satellite test similar to India\u2019s, when it downed its Fengyun-1C spacecraft in 2007. That test continues to be the source for the maximum amount of debris ever created in space. It resulted in more than 1.5 lakh large and small pieces, of which 3,428 are large enough to be tracked through radars. Bridenstine mentioned that while the debris from the Indian test was expected to dissipate soon, a lot of the debris from the Chinese test continues to be in orbit.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The second biggest source of space debris was a rare collision between two spacecraft. In in February 2009, the inactive Russian satellite Kosmos 2251 collided with Iridium 33, a US company\u2019s operational communications satellite. It remains the only instance of such a collision in low-earth orbit. There is no known case of a piece of debris colliding with and damaging or destroying a satellite.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_common_are_collisions_in_space\"><\/span>How common are collisions in space?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>According to the European Space Agency, there are about 34,000 objects of size 10 cm or above in space, another 90,000 of objects of sizes between 1 and 10 cm, and a further 128 million of sizes between 1 mm and 10 mm. Yet, considering the vastness of space, it is not surprising that collisions, even between pieces of debris not moving in any fixed orbit, are extremely rare.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Relevant for General Studies &amp; Essay. According to the European Space Agency, there are about 34,000 objects of size 10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[110,18,73,7,42,844],"tags":[535,545,817],"class_list":["post-2923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essay","category-general-studies-ii","category-general-studies-iv","category-general-studies-i","category-general-studies-iii-technology-economic-development-bio-diversity-environment-security-and-disaster-management","category-gs","tag-essay","tag-general-studies","tag-gs"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2923"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2927,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2923\/revisions\/2927"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}