ISSAR 2023: Indian Space Situational Assessment

ISRO has released the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2023.

About Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2023:

• ISSAR 2023 was compiled by the ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM).
• IS4OM has been operational since 2022, tasked with protecting ISRO’s space assets.
• The report was publicly released by ISRO Chairman S. Somanath.

Key Highlights:

Global

• 3,143 space objects were added to orbit in 2023, stemming from 212 launches and on-orbit breakup events.
• There were five major on-orbit break-up events in 2023, contributing to the growth of space debris.
• A net addition of 69 fragmented objects to the space debris population was recorded by the end of 2023.

India

• As of December 31, 2023, a total of 127 Indian satellites have been launched.
• There are 22 operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 29 in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) owned by the Government of India.
• Three active Indian deep space missions: Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter, Aditya-L1, and Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module.
• 21 Indian satellites have re-entered the atmosphere till the end of 2023, including eight in 2023 alone with a controlled re-entry of Megha-Tropiques-1.
• There are 82 rocket bodies from Indian launches still in orbit as of 2023; of these, 35 have re-entered, including five in 2023.
• All seven ISRO launches in 2023, including missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L-1, were successful.

Risks to Space Assets

• The risk of collision has increased, necessitating 23 Collision Avoidance Maneuvers (CAMs) in 2023 to protect Indian space assets.
• Kessler syndrome is a growing concern, describing a scenario where the accumulation of space debris leads to an uncontrollable cascade of collisions.
• Astronaut safety is jeopardized by the increasing volume of space debris.

Ref: Source