Chennai, March 5 (UNI) Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
Preparing for a challenging test of controlled re-entry of a
Decommissioned Low Earth Orbiting Satellite, Megha-Tropix-1 (MT1),
On the evening of March 7.
MT1 was launched on October 12, 2011 as a joint satellite initiative
ISRO and French Space Agency, CNES for tropical climate and
Climate research.
Although originally the mission life of the satellite was 3 years, it
Satellite continues to provide valuable data services a
Decade supporting regional and global climate models until 2021.
An uninhabited area between 5 degrees S and 14 degrees S of the Pacific Ocean
Latitude and 119°W to 100°W were identified as longitude
Targeted re-entry zone for MT1.
Since August 2022, 18 orbital maneuvers have been performed sequentially.
In Orbital Com de-orbiting, aero-breaking studies
Various solar panel adaptations were made for better gain
Insights into the physical mechanisms influencing atmospheric drag
Decay in satellite orbit
ISRO stated that the final D-Boost technique has been designed after taking off
Considering several limitations, including reentrant trace visibility
On the ground station, ground effects within the target area and are permissible
Operating conditions of subsystems, especially peak deliverables
Maximum firing duration of thrust and thrusters.
The final two are expected to be followed by D-boost burns and ground effects
Held between 1630 hrs to 1930 hrs on 7 March.
Aero-thermal simulations show that there are no large fragments of satellites
Probability of surviving aerothermal heating during re-entry.
Committed to safe and sustainable operations as a responsible space agency
In space, the Indian Space Agency actively undertakes efforts for improvement
Compliance with the UN/IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines
Post-mission disposal of LEO objects.
MT1’s re-entry was taken up as part of the experiment, ISRO said
This satellite with enough remaining fuel presents a unique ongoing effort
Opportunity to examine relevant methods and associated understanding
Operational precision post mission disposal by direct re-entry into Earth
the atmosphere
UN/IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines A LEO (low
Earth orbit) object at the end of its life, preferably through controlled re-entry
A safe impact zone, or by bringing it into an orbit where the orbital lifetime is short
More than 25 years.
It is recommended to perform “passivation” of the on-board power source
Minimize the risk of an accidental post-mission break-up.
The orbital lifetime of MT1, which weighs about 1,000 kg, will be longer than that
100 years in operational orbit of 20 degree inclination at 867 km altitude.
About 125 kg of on-board fuel remains unused at the end of its mission which could be
Creates a risk for accidental break-ups. This residual fuel was assumed to be sufficient
To achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact an uninhabited location
In the Pacific Ocean, ISRO said.
(ED: Pick up appropriately from previous series).
UNI GV 1947
