SPACE RACE & SPACE JUNK
Key Phases and Milestones:
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Sputnik (1957): The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite. This event marked the beginning of the Space Age and sparked the space race.
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Yuri Gagarin (1961): Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth aboard Vostok 1, boosting Soviet prestige and establishing them as leaders in space exploration.
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Apollo Program (1960s-1970s): The United States' Apollo program aimed to land humans on the Moon. Apollo 11, in 1969, achieved this historic feat with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.
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Space Stations: Both nations established space stations. The Soviet Union launched Salyut and Mir, while the United States launched Skylab and later contributed to the International Space Station (ISS).
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Spacecraft and Missions: Numerous space missions, including unmanned probes to explore planets, manned spaceflights, and spacewalks, demonstrated technological prowess and scientific advancement
Impacts and Significance:
- Technological Advancements: The Space Race fueled rapid advancements in rocketry, materials science, electronics, and communication technologies, benefiting numerous fields beyond space exploration.
- Geopolitical Rivalry: The competition served as a symbolic battleground for the Cold War ideologies, showcasing each nation's technological prowess.
- Global Inspiration: The Space Race captured the world's imagination, inspiring generations to pursue careers in science, technology, and exploration.
- International Cooperation: While born out of competition, the Space Race ultimately saw collaboration on joint projects like the International Space Station, laying the groundwork for future international cooperation in space exploration.
- Decommissioned satellites, fragments from satellite explosions, or pieces of satellites that have broken apart contribute significantly to space junk
- Discarded rocket stages or boosters that remain in orbit after delivering payloads into space are a substantial source of debris
- Accidental collisions between satellites or space debris generate more fragments, adding to the debris population
- Even tiny particles, such as paint chips or flecks of metal, pose threats due to their high speeds in orbit
Impact and Concerns:
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Collision Risks: Space junk travels at high speeds, posing significant collision risks to active satellites, spacecraft, and the International Space Station (ISS). Collisions could damage or destroy operational satellites, leading to potential disruptions in communication, weather forecasting, navigation, and other critical services.
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Kessler Syndrome: This hypothetical scenario suggests that if the density of space debris reaches a critical point, collisions could trigger a cascade effect, generating more debris and rendering certain orbits unusable due to the heightened risk of collisions.
Concerns Regarding Space Junk
The vast expanse of space might seem infinite, but it's not immune to the consequences of our burgeoning space activities. One growing concern is the issue of space junk, the accumulation of defunct satellites, rocket parts, and other debris orbiting Earth. While the allure of space exploration and innovation is undeniable, it's crucial to acknowledge and address the potential dangers posed by space junk:
Collision Risks: As the number of objects in orbit increases, the likelihood of accidental collisions also rises. A collision between large fragments could create even more debris, creating a cascading effect and jeopardizing operational satellites and future space missions.
Threat to Spacecraft: Even small bits of junk can pose a significant threat to satellites and spacecraft, potentially damaging or disabling them. This could disrupt vital communication networks, scientific research, and even navigation systems used in everyday life.
Long-Term Impact on Astronomy: The growing cloud of space junk can obstruct astronomical observations, making it difficult to study the universe and potentially hindering our understanding of our place in it.
Remediation Challenges: Cleaning up space junk is a complex and expensive undertaking. Current technologies for deorbiting or capturing debris are still in their early stages, and a truly effective solution requires international cooperation and sustained investment
Causes of Space Junk
Space junk, also known as space debris, arises from various human-made sources and events in space. Some of the primary causes include:
- Decommissioned, malfunctioning, or obsolete satellites can break apart due to collisions, explosions, or natural degradation
- Discarded rocket stages and boosters left in orbit after launching payloads contribute to debris accumulation
- Unintentional collisions between operational satellites or debris fragments generate additional debris, increasing the overall debris population
- Chinese Anti-Satellite Test (2007)- China conducted an anti-satellite missile test, intentionally destroying one of its weather satellites, creating a substantial amount of debris
- Even tiny particles, such as paint chips or flecks of metal, result from spacecraft erosion or disintegration, contributing to space junk
- Satellites or spacecraft without planned deorbiting strategies, designed to re-enter Earth's atmosphere safely at the end of their operational life, can add to debris
- Historical missions, including spent rocket stages, defunct satellites, and other remnants from early space exploration efforts, continue to contribute to space junk
- Natural collisions with micrometeoroids or small meteoroids can also generate debris, although this is a relatively minor contributor compared to human-made debris
- Certain actions, deliberate or inadvertent, such as improper satellite deployments or maneuvers, can lead to collisions or increased debris
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Key incidents where space debris caused damage
Space debris has caused several incidents leading to damage or potential risks to operational satellites and space missions. Some key incidents include: 1. Iridium-Cosmos Collision (2009):
2. Fengyun-1C Destruction (2007):
3. Micro-debris Impact on ISS:
4. Potential Risks to Operational Satellites:
5. Long-Term Risks and Kessler Syndrome:
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- Continuous monitoring and tracking of space debris using radar, telescopes, and ground-based tracking systems to catalogue debris and predict potential collisions
- Active satellite operators manoeuvre their spacecraft to avoid potential collisions with known debris by altering their orbits
- International collaboration and agreements to establish guidelines for responsible space operations and the exchange of information to minimize collision risks
- Development of technologies and strategies for actively capturing, removing, or deorbiting defunct satellites or large debris objects to reduce the amount of space junk
- Designing satellites with plans for controlled de-orbiting at the end of their operational life to ensure they re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up
- Incorporating responsible space debris management plans in the design and planning phases of future missions to minimize debris creation
What is Project NETRA?Project NETRA, which stands for the "Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis," is an initiative by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at enhancing India's capabilities in tracking and monitoring space objects, specifically space debris and satellites
The primary objective of Project NETRA is to bolster India's ability to monitor and analyze space objects in orbit, including space debris and active satellites.
Monitoring space debris to prevent collisions with operational satellites and spacecraft, ensuring their safety and longevity
Developing capabilities for tracking and managing the increasing traffic of objects in space to prevent collisions and maintain orbital safety
Deployment of sophisticated sensors, radars, and surveillance technologies for precise tracking and analysis of objects in Earth's orbit
Providing crucial information and support for the planning and execution of space missions, ensuring their safety amidst the growing population of space objects.
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MCQs on Space Junk
1. What is space junk primarily composed of? A) Natural meteoroids Answer: B) Defunct satellites and rocket stages 2. Which incident in 2009 resulted in a significant increase in space debris due to a collision? A) Chinese Anti-Satellite Test Answer: C) Iridium-Cosmos collision 3.What is the hypothetical scenario that suggests a cascade effect of collisions leading to more debris called? A) Kepler Syndrome Answer: C) Kessler Syndrome 4.Which measure involves the active removal of space debris from orbit? A) Space Surveillance Networks Answer: C) Active Debris Removal 5.What is the primary purpose of Project NETRA initiated by ISRO? A) Deep space exploration Answer: C) Tracking and managing space objects |
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Previous Year Questions
1.In the context of space technology, what is “Bhuvan”, recently in the news? (UPSC 2010) (a) A mini satellite launched by ISRO for promoting the distance education in India (b) The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayan-II (c) A geoportal of ISRO with 3 D imaging capabilities of India (d) A space telescope developed by India Answer: (c) 2.With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2016) 1) Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space. 2) Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: (d)
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What is space junk?
Space junk, also known as space debris, refers to man-made objects in orbit around Earth that no longer serve any useful purpose. These objects include defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from collisions, and other remnants of past space missions.
2. How does space junk form?
Space junk is generated from various sources such as defunct or malfunctioning satellites, accidental collisions between spacecraft or debris, intentional destruction of satellites (as in anti-satellite tests), discarded rocket stages, and even small particles created from erosion or disintegration of spacecraft.
3. How does space junk affect satellites and space missions?
Space junk poses collision risks to operational satellites and spacecraft in orbit. High-speed debris can damage or destroy satellites, impacting communication, weather forecasting, navigation systems, and other critical space-based services.
4. What is the Kessler Syndrome?
The Kessler Syndrome is a hypothetical scenario proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler. It suggests that a cascade of collisions among space debris could generate more debris, leading to a chain reaction where collisions create even more debris, making certain orbits hazardous or unusable.
