ISRO’s Debris-Free Space Mission Targets Rising Orbital Pollution

New Delhi: India is intensifying efforts to keep Earth’s orbital environment safe as the number of satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) continues to rise. Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, told the Rajya Sabha that ISRO is working to prevent and reduce the accumulation of space debris linked to expanding satellite and internet constellations.

At the centre of these efforts is ISRO’s Debris-Free Space Mission (DFSM), a broader sustainability initiative rather than a single spacecraft. The programme seeks to make Indian space activities more environmentally responsible by incorporating debris prevention into the design, operation and disposal stages of missions. Its approach includes limiting the time satellites and rocket stages remain in orbit after completing their missions and promoting safe post-mission disposal.

The initiative also supports the development of technologies that can deal with debris already present in orbit. Active Debris Removal (ADR) involves sending specialised spacecraft to approach, capture or otherwise interact with defunct objects and move them towards safer disposal or eventual atmospheric re-entry. Another key component is Space Situational Awareness (SSA).

By detecting and tracking satellites, rocket bodies and other orbital objects, India can identify potential close approaches and enable spacecraft operators to conduct collision-avoidance manoeuvres. ISRO is also building indigenous capabilities to monitor space objects and improve the accuracy of orbital data.

The challenge is already substantial. According to the latest government data, 129 trackable debris objects associated with Indian satellite missions were in orbit as of March 2026. The count included inactive satellites, rocket bodies and fragments created by an earlier PSLV-C3 breakup.

Singh said India is also participating in international mechanisms for space-debris mitigation and monitoring. ISRO has been a member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) since 1996, while India participates in United Nations and other international forums focused on orbital safety.

The government has stressed that international data sharing, stronger compliance, satellite manoeuvrability and trackability, along with indigenous research and technology, will be essential to protecting operational spacecraft and ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space.