ISRO’s Record-Breaking PSLV-C37: How Its Upper Stage Re-Entry is Paving the Way for a Cleaner Space Future

Introduction

• A remarkable event took place in the space sector of sustainability. The last stage of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-37, a creation of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has recently returned to Earth after serving more than seven years in space.
• This was not just a technological marvel but also a statement about ISRO’s integrity as a space faring nation – about not polluting outer space with debris.
• In this blog, we’ll look at the specifics of the PSLV-C37 mission, the importance of the upper stage re-entry, how ISRO is striving to take sustainable measures in space and what this could mean for the future.

Mission Overview: PSLV-C37’s Record-Breaking Launch

• The PSLV-C37 mission of February 15, 2017 was one of the most historic space missions of all time. In one mission, ISRO made it to the records’ books by orbital 104 satellites to space, making it confirm their position in the global market in satellite launches.
• The main payload of the mission was the Cartosat-2D is a remote sensing satellite used for mapping applications and providing information for cartography, detection of creases in road infrastructure, identification of changes in use and distribution of land around the coast.
• Co-passenger of Cartosat-2D was two other small Indian satellite namely, INS-1A and INS-1B along with 101 other foreign satellites of which 98 where from USA.
• This mission displayed a new facet in ISRO with its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which has proved to be one of the most reliable and accurate vehicle for placing satellites in their designated orbits.
• The successful launch also pointed to a growing trend of India making its space capability felt in the international arena, especially in a commercial niche of launching revenue generating satellites for its domestic and foreign clients.

Orbital Details and the Role of the Upper Stage

• While its main job of putting 104 satellites in orbit was over, the final stage of the PSLV-C37 rocket, termed as PS4, remained functional in space.
• This upper stage has been put into an elliptical orbit with apogee of about 470 kilometers, and perigee of about 494 kilometers.
• While the PS4 stage performed its function to the letter, it remained in orbit with thousands of other fragments, adding to the problem of space debris.

The Re-Entry Process: A Step Toward Space Sustainability

• Since satellites in LEO naturally tend to decay and fall downward due to aerodynamic drag, it was time for the PSLV-C37 upper state to start a slow fall towards the earth.
• On 6 October 2024 it returned back to the Earth atmosphere after over seven years in one orbit.
• By this time the orbit of the PS4 stage was down to about 134 km by 148 km, just low enough for it to enter the lower atmosphere and burn up.
• The process culminated at 15:49 UTC as the stage over which failed on the re-entry phase and impacted in the North Atlantic Ocean.
• This re- entry was managed in a controlled way and the object being tracked by United States Space Command under the tracking number, NORAD 42052.
• This made it possible for the upper stage not to add to the accumulating number of space debris which is a sustainability issue, as per ISRO’s sustainability objectives.

Compliance with International Space Debris Guidelines

• Apart from the engineering success of the PSLV-C37 mission, it was equally pleasing to see ISRO paying attention to follow international standards concerning space debris.
• The Inter-Аgency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) is calling for non-operational objects in low orbital paths at the LEO not to be maintained in orbit beyond 25 years.
• Virtually a couple of weeks after the launching of the satellites, ISRO has assured the public that the PSLV-C37 upper stage had re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere within this period, a clear indicator of the organization’s commitment to safe space activities.
• With human activities in space rising, probability of collision and formation of objects of man-made origin that are defunct in orbit or space debris also rise. Some action taken by the ISRO to deal with this problem can be seen from its attempt to recover the PSLV-C37 upper stage back into earth.

ISRO’s Future Initiatives: Toward a Debris-Free Space Mission

• That said, PSLV-C37 is only a part of ISRO’s vision of green space exploration and use. In the long run, according to ISRO, the amount of time that its PSLV upper stages linger in orbit should be no more than five years.
• This is a cut down from the 25-years guideline, a fact that show that ISRO is eager to set pace in space sustainability.

Controlled Re-Entry Plans for Future Missions

• To these ends ISRO is currently planning to incorporate controlled re-entry systems in its future missions. A controlled re-entry can guarantee that the dead satellites and other rocket stages re-enter the earth’s atmosphere in a orderly manner thus reducing the risks of explosion outputs falling in populated areas or in regions contributing to congestion in space.
• ISRO still has a lot to do if space sustainability has to be achieved; one of its key strategies towards this is embarked on project on deleting space debris by the year 2030.
• This ambitious plan is to guarantee that none of the ISRO’s space operations cause long-term detriment to space environment.
• This includes the aerospace structures of satellites and rocket stages which are effectively recoverable after their application or recoverable through controlled re-entry.

PSLV-C37: A Landmark Mission in ISRO’s History

• As for the re-entry of the PSLV-C37 upper stage, which undoubtedly is important in organisers of space debris, the mission itself has a special place in the history of ISRO.
• For instance, the PSLV, was able to launch 104 satellites at once and such success indicates the reliability of the mission.
• This mission served a very important goal of establishing India as a major player in the global space society and alsogetDrawable
• The story of Mangalyaan became an inspirational story to spread India’s mark in front of the world and proved that the country
• strengths in delivering cheap and dependable satellite launch solutions.
• The Cartosat-2D series satellite formed the main payload among the satellites launched. In spatial planning it performs vital functions in cartography, urban and rural planning, and disaster management through capturing images of the earth at the highest resolution.
• Besides Cartosat-2D, ISRO was to launch two INS (Indian Nanosatellite Series), intended for separate scientific and technological experiments.
• In addition, 101 of the satellites onboard where of other countries, further showing rising demand for India’s commercial satellite launch services.
• The PSLV-C37 mission was not only technical success but diplomatic success, as it strengthened India relations with few countries like the USA, Israel, Kazakhstan and UAE, and so on.
• ISRO was thus proved capable in its first venture itself to offer economic satellite launch services in the international market and solidifying it as a preferred strategic collaborator for space faring nations and organizations desiring affordable space access.

Looking Ahead: The Future of ISRO’s Space Debris Management

• It is evidence of ISRO’s long-term conscious effort to ensure that there is sustainable usage of space as it is with the organization’s overall goal.
• Therefore, the problem of space debris is only going to become more pressing as the world adds more and more satellites into orbit, including the new mega constellries for communications and Earth observation.
• Measures like shortening the orbital lifetime of its upper stages, or employing controlled reentry systems ISRO is well on its way to setting standards for environmentally friendly space operation.

Toward a Debris-Free Space by 2030

• A major activity proposed for ISRO in the future is the Debris Free Space Mission (DFSM). ISRO aims to take all its space missions global debris guidelines by 2030 so as to help in the reduction on space clutter.
• This forward-thinking approach will involve:
  • Developing spacecraft for which it is possible to bring them into a controlled de-orbit or otherwise ensure that they will break up safely upon Usa.
  • Introducing methods of controlled re-entry of all stages of the rocket carriers with their subsequent safe landing on the Earth.
  • Working with international organisations to enhance monitoring and prevention system of space debris.
  • With such goals in its mind ISRO is not only safeguarding space environment for continued use but also making sure future generations are able to tap into the potential of space and satellite services.

The Broader Impact on Space Exploration

• The following discussion relates ISRO initiatives to attain sustainable space operations to the rest of the world space industry implications.
• Originally, the world was engaged in a space race between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, but today an increasing number of states and even private corporations are using space and placing satellites into orbit, so it is particularly important to establish rules and to act responsibly in outer space.
• The NSCP framework that ISRO has implemented here beocomes a towering example for others to achieve throughout the world and build up the heightened problem of space debris.
• Through this study, ISRO has ensured sustainability in space missions, which in return makes space environment safer for satellite advantages to be harnessed without more future adverse effects of accumulation of space debris.

Conclusion

• After several weeks of maneuvering, the PSLV C37 upper stage is expected to re-enter the Earth atmosphere on October, 6, 2024 which will be perceived as a major achievement towards sustainable space governance.
• It manifests the commitment of ISRO not only to the development of space science but also towards operation responsibility to environment.
• The three-state re-entry constraints comprise orbital lifetime standards recommended by international space agencies, the withdrawal of upper stages from space and the use of precisely controlled re-entry systems, all of which are noble steps that ISRO has put into practice to set the pace for the future sustainable space exploration.

FAQS

Q1: What is PSLV-C37?
Ans: PSLV-C37 is a mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that launched on February 15, 2017, setting a world record by deploying 104 satellites in a single flight.

Q2: How many satellites were launched by PSLV-C37 in a single flight, marking a world record?
Ans: PSLV-C37 launched 104 satellites in a single mission, breaking the previous world record for the most satellites launched in a single flight.

Q3: What was the primary payload of the PSLV-C37 mission?
Ans: The primary payload of the PSLV-C37 mission was Cartosat-2D, a high-resolution Earth observation satellite used for mapping, urban planning, and disaster management.

Q4: Why is the re-entry of the PSLV-C37 upper stage significant?
Ans: The re-entry of the PSLV-C37 upper stage is significant as it demonstrates ISRO’s commitment to reducing space debris and ensuring sustainable space operations. The upper stage re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in October 2024, over seven years after its initial launch.