EDITORIAL
In a significant step that will ensure long term sustainability of ISRO’s outer space activities, Cartosat-2, ISRO’s first satellite in the second generation of high-resolution imaging satellites, has successfully made a re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere.
Cartosat-2’s successful de-orbiting at its end-of-life represents a significant step for ISRO in ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The satellite made the re-entry 17 years after it was launched from the SHAR Range on January 10, 2007.
It weighed 680 kg at launch and operated in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 635 kms. Until 2019, it provided high-resolution imagery for urban planning. Initially, Cartosat-2 was expected to take about 30 years to naturally de-orbit. However, ISRO opted to lower its perigee using leftover fuel to comply with international guidelines on space debris mitigation.
This involved reducing collision risks and ensuring safe end-of-life disposal, following recommendations from organizations like the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPOUS) and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), ISRO said on Saturday.
ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations (IS4OM) team at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) predicted Cartosat-2’s atmospheric re-entry for February 14.
Electrical passivation was completed on February 14, and tracking continued until re-entry. The final telemetry frames confirmed successful passivation, with the satellite reaching about 130 kmsaltitude.
“This provided an opportunity to assess indigenous tracking capabilities with the Multi-object tracking radar at Sriharikota utilized for tracking”, the Space Agency said.
ISRO said the final prediction placed Cartosat-2’s re-entry over the Indian Ocean at 10:18 UTC/ 3:48 p.m. IST on February 14. Analysis indicated that all major spacecraft components would demise during atmospheric re-entry
