Space Environment needs proper management

The rapid and wondrous pace with which mankind has changed the way of life on earth in the past six decades is a testimony to his creative brilliance and ability to convert his dreams and ideas into reality. Nations and states branded as inert economies till recently, are the new challengers and are poised to take over the mantle of global leadership. But the developments that have changed our lives unalterably, have invariably come at a price which threaten to prove these great strides to be a curse instead of the blessing that they were meant to be.

Since the 1950s, many satellites have been launched to serve as communications relay devices and image sensors Unknown to millions of inhabitants on earth, their life is being favourably influenced by space activities. Space probes, more particularly satellites in space, provide data on varied subjects which helps immensely even in our everyday life. Regrettably, in his pursuit of pushing new frontiers, he has, however, paid scant respect to the environment in space. With the impressive and spectacular advancement in space came the beginnings of space pollution. Today, space is littered with toothbrush, garbage bags, non-functional satellites and upper stages of rockets/launch vehicles. It is a matter of great concern since collisions at orbital velocities can be highly damaging to functioning satellites and can also produce even more space debris in the process. The space wreckage continues to orbit the Earth on paths that cannot be controlled from the ground. Collisions are common and pose a danger to active satellites. Proposals have been made for ways to ”sweep” space debris back into Earth’s atmosphere to absorb impacting junk and eventually fall out of orbit with them trapped inside. Innovation is needed to solve this problem and retain the use of the invaluable LEO altitudes, and a combination of manual deorbiting and graveyard orbit salvage will probably be the most doable. It is possible that, in a generation or so, the business of orbital cleanup will even be profitable, if operators are given rights to salvaged material.

What emerges as an inescapable conclusion is that life on Earth will not remain unaffected and impervious to the increasing changes in space wrought by us - and we are both the perpetrators as well as the victims. We can continue to ignore the situation only at our own peril and the incalculable harm that we are bringing on ourselves cannot be wished away by remaining in denial.

Man, by nature, is conceited and is used to working alone. But in the present scenario, we need to join our hands and fight together against the potential disasters that we might create because of our limited understanding and narrow vision. We, in India, believe in the adage ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ - the world is but one family. It is time mankind got together to make a concerted attempt and to strive and work towards to a solution so we may continue our endeavours for the betterment of life on Earth.

- Rushi GHADAWALA