Project Netra

Project Netra
Question: which of the following agency has initiated project Netra?
(a) ISRO
(b) DRDO
(c) Indian Air Force
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
  • The Indian Space Research Organization initiated ‘Project Netra’ – an early warning system in space to detect debris and other hazards to Indian satellites.
  • The project estimated to cost Rs. 400 crore, when in place, will give India its own capability in space situational awareness like the other space powers  which is used to predict threats from debris to Indian Satellites.
  • It also goes so far as to serve as an unstated warning against missile or space attack for the country, experts say.
  • The space agency says our SSA will first be for low earth orbits or LEO which have remote sensing spacecraft.
  • Under Netra, or network for space object tracking and analysis, the ISRO plans to put up many observational facilities; connected radars, telescopes; data processing units and a control centre.
  • They can, among others, spot, track and catalogue objects as small as a 10 cm, up to range of 3,400 km and equal to a space orbit of around 2,000 km.
  • With this the ISRO, which has placed satellites to track the earth from above, will also start training its eyes on space from earth.
  • Space debris could be floating particles from dead satellites or rockets parts that stay in orbit for many years.
  • NETRA effort would make India a part of international efforts towards tracking, warning about and mitigating space debris.
  • Netra eventual goal is to capture the GEO, or geostationary orbit, scene at 36,000 km where communication satellites operate.
  • Until now ISRO is depend on the data from NORAD and others available in the public domain but this information is not accurate.
  • NORAD, or the North Atlantic American Aerospace Defence Command, is an initiative of the U.S. and Canada that shares selective debris data with many countries.
  • The new SSA centre would consolidate debris tracking activities that are now spread across ISRO centers.
  • Currently there are 15 functional Indian communication satellites in the geostationary orbit of 36,000 km; 13 remote sensing satellites in LEO of up to 2,000 km; and eight navigation satellites in medium earth orbits.

Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-initiates-project-netra-to-safeguard-indian-space-assets-from-debris-and-other-harm/article29497795.ece