The Prayas ePathshala

Exams आसान है !

Q1. What exactly is space debris? What obstacles do they present to the economic use of space, and how are they caused?

GS IV – Science and Technology related issues

Introduction:

Space debris, sometimes referred to as space garbage, is man-made stuff that orbits the Earth but is no longer useful. These particles are a serious threat to satellites since they are travelling at an average speed of 27,000 mph in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and collisions with even centimeter-sized fragments can be fatal.
The highest space object-to-launch ratio was recorded globally in 2021. To put it another way, with each launch, more space objects are put into orbit. Compared to 1,860 objects in 135 launches in 2021, 522 things were launched into orbit in 2020 (102 launches).
An estimated 34,000 space objects larger than 10 cm are known to exist. Even the moon has experienced some space debris strikes.

Space Debris Causes:

Defunct artificial objects: These include defunct satellites and spent rocket stages. In orbit, there are roughly 2000 operational satellites and about 3000 dead ones.
Unintentional material: Pieces of spacecraft, like paint chips from satellites or rockets, etc.
Debris from Anti-Satellite Tests: A significant amount of space debris was produced by the Fengyun-1C satellite fragments, which were a component of China’s 2007 Anti-Satellite Test (ASAT).
Collisions between satellites: Collisions between satellites result in an accumulation of thousands of space debris in orbit, which is challenging to track. Consider the 2009 collision between the Russian Cosmos 2251 and Iridium satellites.

Difficulties presented by space junk:

Threats to current satellites: A few centimetres of large space debris can destroy any satellite, as they travel at many kilometres per second.
Energy used for tracking and space manoeuvres: For instance, ISRO’s collision avoidance manoeuvres (CAMs) increased from three in 2015 to 12 in 2020 and 19 in 2021. The space agency kept an eye on 3,148 occurrences in geostationary orbit and 4,382 events in low Earth orbit (LEO) where space debris came dangerously close to Indian assets last year.
Launch delays: A launch must be cancelled if there is a chance of colliding with an object in space.
Risks to human space missions: It can pierce space capsules since it travels at a speed greater than that of bullets.
Danger of the Dyson sphere: space trash occupying vast areas of space surrounding the globe can render commercial space travel entirely unfeasible.
Global Standards: To establish guidelines for when a satellite should be retired and to prevent anti-satellite experiments.
Satellite end-of-life designs: When a satellite reaches the end of its useful life, it must be required to reenter the earth’s atmosphere in a controlled manner in order to burn and be destroyed.
Reusable stages, less paint, and controlled burning in the atmosphere should be standard features in rocket designs.
Solution for current trash: A lot of study and invention are required to make space junk collection economically feasible for a worldwide endeavour in this area.

In summary:

ISRO has been keeping an eye on space debris to prevent collisions. In order to begin the Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) project, it has improved its radar and telescopes. India’s only option, barring a worldwide alliance on the matter, is to avoid any accident.

Q2. If the BIMSTEC grouping’s connectivity and commerce aren’t improved, India’s Act East Policy will stay stark. Critically analyse.

GS IV – International issues

Introduction:

As it approaches its Silver Jubilee, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organisation whose members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Its goal is to promote economic cooperation amongst these governments. This year, Sri Lanka would host its fifth summit.

BIMSTEC’s significance in relation to Act East policy:

For India, BIMSTEC is particularly significant in terms of a shifting perception of the area.
Achieves two goals at once: the Bay of Bengal is essential to India’s “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” programmes, which have the potential to quicken the process of regional integration. BIMSTEC is important to the region and to India.
Overcomes the obstacles in the west: Pakistan’s animosity has made it challenging for India to improve connectivity in the west. As a result, BIMSTEC gets over SAARC’s shortcomings.
Important in the Emerging Concept of the Indo-Pacific: As the concept of the “Indo-Pacific” region is resurfacing, the Bay of Bengal’s strategic and economic importance is expanding quickly. This idea is predicated on the idea that a shared strategic space is being created between the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions due to the expanding economic, geopolitical, and security ties between them.
Collaboration in the domain of security: BIMSTEC collaboration has made noticeable strides in a number of sectors, including security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, and coastal security, among others.
However, India’s partnership with the BIMSTEC is limited by the state of trade and connectivity.

Relevance in relation to East-West connectivity:

An Asian bridge: BIMSTEC has enormous potential to help India conduct business with the ASEAN nations.
Between South and Southeast Asia, two significant high-growth centres of Asia, BIMSTEC acts as a link.
For Peace and Sustainable Growth: The development of a peaceful, wealthy, and sustainable Bay of Bengal area depends on connectivity. The East of India has had a number of insurgencies, with a lack of development being one of the causes.
Tough terrain: India and Myanmar share a single multimodal terminal, Kaladan MMT, which was just built recently.
The Bay of Bengal may, in fact, become the centre of the Indo-Pacific concept—a location where the strategic objectives of the main East and South Asian countries converge—with a revised narrative and strategy.

The significance of safeguarding trade:

Natural connectivity: The BIMSTEC region’s proximity to one another, wealth of human and natural resources, extensive historical connections, and rich cultural legacy all contribute to the region’s ability to foster closer collaboration.
To improve people-to-people contact: In a democratic society, a connection between two countries is most strengthened by its collaboration with its people.
Energy cooperation: By exporting energy to Bengal and India, Himalayan countries like Nepal and Bhutan can benefit all of their partners.

Way Forward:

In order to improve cooperation methodically, the BIMSTEC has to concentrate on setting up organisations like the secretariat and completing the Charter. Free trade agreements, the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF), collaboration between diplomatic academies and training institutions, and other initiatives are necessary to improve trade and connectivity.