‘Project NETRA’ is an early warning system in space to detect debris and other hazards to Indian satellites. Once operational, it will give India its own capability in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) like the other space powers.
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What is Project NETRA?
- The ISRO is embarking on a project to establish various observation setups, including linked radars and telescopes, alongside data processing hubs and a central control facility.
- These facilities will have the capability to detect, monitor, and categorize objects as tiny as 10 centimeters across, within a range extending up to 3,400 kilometers. This range encompasses space orbits of approximately 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
Components of Project NETRA
Project NETRA will comprise the following:
- ISRO intends to deploy high-precision and long-range telescopes in Leh, along with a radar system in the North East region.
- ISRO plans to install the Multi-Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
- India plans to set up telescopes at Ponmudi and Mount Abu to improve its understanding of space activities, giving it a wider view of what’s happening in space.
- Presently, India boasts:
- 15 operational communication satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
- 13 Remote Sensing Satellites orbiting in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- 8 Navigation Satellites aiding in precise positioning and navigation services.
Significance
- The project aims to provide India with its own ability to monitor space activity, known as space situational awareness (SSA).
- This new ability lets India foresee space junk dangers to its satellites, just like other advanced spacefaring nations.
- NETRA’s ultimate objective is to observe the GEO (geostationary orbit) environment, located at an altitude of 36,000 km, where communication satellites are positioned. This capability is crucial for safeguarding India’s communication satellites from potential hazards.
- By developing this capability, India will become a contributor to international efforts aimed at tracking, warning about, and managing space debris. This participation underscores India’s commitment to ensuring the safety and sustainability of activities in outer space.
Read Also: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
