111 Payloads, 105 Space Debris 'Identified As Indian Objects' Orbiting Earth: Science Minister

In 2022, ISRO carried out 21 collision avoidance manoeuvres of Indian Operational Space assets to avoid collision threats from other space objects, Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh tells Rajya Sabha.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said Thursday a total of 111 payloads and 105 space debris, which have been identified as Indian objects, are orbiting the Earth as on January 20, 2023, as per USSPACECOM, which tracks and catalogues such objects. 

The catalogue is published on the spacetrack website, according to a press release issued by the Department of Space. Sharing the figures in his written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister also said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) carried out 21 collision avoidance manoeuvres of Indian Operational Space assets to avoid collision threats.

Singh, who is also the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences and MoS, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said all orbiting debris would have impact on the sustainability of the outer space and future missions. 
ISRO Carried Out 21 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres In 2022

He also said ISRO has been carrying out several studies on the impacts of growing debris on the space environment. According to him, research and studies on space debris and the potential and emerging threats from them have been carried out by ISRO and academia since the early 1990s. In 2022, the ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management (IS 4 OM) was established to ensure more focused efforts towards monitoring the objects that pose collision threat, improving the "prediction of evolution of space debris environment and concerted activities to mitigate the risk posed by space debris", Singh was quoted as saying in the space department.

The minister said ISRO carried out as many as 21 collision avoidance manoeuvres of Indian Operational Space assets in 2022 so collision threats from other space objects could be avoided. Explaining that very small debris objects are too small to be tracked, he said all spacecraft need to be shielded against the impact risk to deal with the threat from these. Singh also said ISRO is carrying out studies and development of spacecraft shielding to improve the protection of spacecraft for the missions to be undertaken in the near future.