INCREASING THREATS FROM SPACE DEBRIS

What constitutes space debris and how are they categorised? What are the physical and legal implications of space debris hitting on Earth? How would these incidents affect the already sour relations between India and China?

- HARINI MADHUSUDAN

On May 12, the local authorities in western India reported several pieces of space debris crashing into rural Gujarat. The timing of the incident collided with the re-entry of a Chinese rocket CZ-3B Y86 into the atmosphere on the same day, suggesting that the debris could be parts of the same rocket. The crashed objects were all discovered within a 15-km radius of three villages in rural Gujarat, and among them was a black-metal ball weighing five kg. Though the incident did not cause any damage to life or infrastructure, an apparent increase in the frequency of such incidents in recent months can be observed.

However, neither the local authorities nor ISRO has positively confirmed the parts as being a part of the Chinese rocket. In fact, the incident marks the second time in two months that the Chinese launch debris crashed into the Indian territory.

Debris in orbital space

Space Debris has remained a significant safety, security, and political concern in orbital space since the early use of the anti-satellite technology and the completion of the lifecycle of a satellite. The European Space Agency defines space debris as “all non-functional, human-made objects, including fragments and elements thereof, in Earth orbit or re-entering into Earth’s atmosphere.”