ISRO rocket completes zero orbit debris mission

“The PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission actually left fragments of debris in orbit,” the space agency said.

Bangalore:

ISRO on Monday said its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has completed its zero-orbit debris mission, describing it as “another milestone”.

This was achieved on March 21, when the PSLV Orbital Experiment Module 3 (POEM-3) reached its “fiery finale” by re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

“The PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission actually left fragments of debris in orbit,” the space agency said.

The PSLV-C58 mission was completed on January 1.

According to ISRO, after completing the main task of placing all satellites into predetermined orbits, the final stage of PSLV was transformed into a three-axis stable platform, namely POEM-3.

The stage deorbited from 650 kilometers to 350 kilometers, which facilitated its early reentry into the atmosphere, and was passivated to remove residual propellant to minimize the risk of any accidental disintegration.

POEM-3 is configured with a total of 9 different experimental payloads and is used to conduct technical demonstrations and scientific experiments on newly developed domestic systems. Of these, six payloads were delivered by non-governmental entities (NGEs) through India’s National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN’SPACe).

The mission objectives for these payloads were achieved within a month.

The orbital altitude of the upper stage continues to decrease under the influence of natural forces (mainly atmospheric drag), and the module (NORAD ID 58695) is expected to impact the North Pacific Ocean (6.4 degrees north latitude, 158.7 degrees west longitude) on March 21, 2024. ISRO stated, 14:04 UTC (19:34 UTC).

POEM is said to be a very cost-effective platform for short-term spaceborne experiments, opening up new vistas for ISRO to academia, startups and NGE to experiment with its new payloads.

Many startups, universities and NGEs have effectively taken advantage of this new opportunity to conduct experiments in space, including electric thrusters, satellite dispensers and star tracking.

POEM also incorporates new capabilities such as total avionics in a single-chain configuration, industrial-grade components in the avionics package including a mission management computer, standard interfaces for power, telemetry, and remote control commands, and utilization of rate gyroscopes ​​New on-orbit navigation algorithms, solar sensors and magnetometers, the space agency said.

In order to conduct experiments efficiently on POEM-3, the body velocity was always stabilized below 0.5 degrees/second, and innovative solutions were introduced, such as controlled dumping of residual propellant after the main mission to minimize disturbances caused by passivation, it added.

ISRO noted that Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) was the first to conceptualize and implement POEM by enhancing the PSLV fourth stage and said PSLV-C58/XPoSat is the third such mission in the series and each POEM has been successfully programmed Script time.

The payload operations are efficiently carried out by the spacecraft operations team of ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) Mission Operations Complex (MOX) and ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Spacecraft Operations Management (IS4OM) has been monitoring and analyzing the orbit of it Say, everything is rotting. POEM-3 was tracked by ISTRAC ground stations until near reentry.

Shriharikota’s Multiple Target Tracking Radar (MOTR) also tracked the PS4 platform until the morning of March 21. POEM-3 is also supported by other centers such as UR Rao Satellite Center (URSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC) and ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

ISRO stated that it will continue to be committed to providing cost-effective orbital experimental platforms because the threat posed by space debris is becoming increasingly serious, especially the emergence of multiple small satellite constellations, which poses a major threat to space activities, including satellite launches, manned spaceflight, and space exploration missions.

ISRO, as a responsible space agency, is committed to mitigating this threat through the development and implementation of advanced debris tracking systems, space object deorbiting technologies and responsible satellite deployment practices, thereby protecting the orbital environment for current and future space undertakings. .

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)