Daily Current Affairs : 25-May-2024

In a significant move towards maintaining the cleanliness of space, twelve international nations today signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council. This commitment aims to make space activities debris-neutral by 2030, ensuring a cleaner and safer orbit for future generations. The signatories include countries such as Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with the European Space Agency (ESA), which joined as an international organization.

What is the Zero Debris Charter?

The Zero Debris Charter is a groundbreaking initiative that seeks to address the growing issue of space debris. Space debris refers to defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other fragments from past space missions that remain in orbit. These objects, many of which are as small as a grain of sand but travel at extremely high speeds, pose serious threats to functioning satellites and spacecraft, such as those essential for global communication, climate forecasting, and navigation.

The goal of the Charter is to make space activities debris-neutral by 2030. This means that for each piece of space debris created, a comparable amount will be removed or prevented from entering orbit. This is part of a broader approach by ESA, known as Zero Debris, which includes significant reforms in space mission planning and the development of technologies to prevent and manage debris.

The Threat of Space Debris

Space debris is a major concern because there are currently more than 1,000,000 pieces of debris larger than one centimeter in Earth’s orbit. These objects not only increase the risk of collisions with operational satellites but also pose a danger to astronauts working in space. The accumulation of debris can also hinder future space exploration and technological advancements.

Global Efforts to Tackle Space Debris

Countries and organizations around the world are working on various projects to address the space debris challenge:

  • India’s Debris Free Space Missions (DFSM) aims to achieve a debris-free environment in space by 2030.
  • Project NETRA focuses on space situational awareness to track and manage debris.
  • The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee works globally to develop common guidelines for debris mitigation.
  • The Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines set international standards to limit the creation of new debris in space.

Important Points:

  • Zero Debris Charter: Twelve countries and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council, committing to make space activities debris-neutral by 2030.
  • Signatories: Countries include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with the ESA.
  • Objective: The goal is to ensure that for every piece of space debris created, an equivalent amount will be removed or prevented from entering orbit, aiming for debris-neutral space activities by 2030.
  • Space Debris: Space debris includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other fragments from past space missions that pose a significant threat to functioning satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts.
  • Threats of Space Debris:
  • Over 1,000,000 pieces of debris larger than 1 cm currently orbit the Earth.
  • Collisions with operational satellites and risk to astronauts.
  • Potential hindrance to future space exploration and technology development.
  • Global Efforts to Address Space Debris:
  • India’s Debris Free Space Missions (DFSM) aims for a debris-free environment by 2030.
  • Project NETRA focuses on space situational awareness and debris tracking.
  • The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee works on global guidelines for debris mitigation.
  • The Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines set international standards to limit the creation of new space debris.
  • ESA’s Role: ESA’s Zero Debris initiative encompasses reforms in space mission planning and the development of new technologies for debris prevention and management.

Why In News

Recently, twelve nations signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council, committing to making space activities debris-neutral by 2030, marking a pivotal step in addressing the growing threat of space debris and ensuring a safer, more sustainable space environment for future generations.

MCQs about The Zero Debris Charter

  1. What is the primary goal of the Zero Debris Charter?
    A. To launch new satellites
    B. To make space activities debris-neutral by 2030
    C. To create new space debris management technologies
    D. To reduce space exploration missions
    Correct Answer: B. To make space activities debris-neutral by 2030
    Explanation: The primary goal of the Zero Debris Charter is to ensure space activities become debris-neutral by 2030, meaning for every piece of space debris created, an equivalent amount will be removed or prevented from entering orbit.
  2. Which of the following countries did NOT sign the Zero Debris Charter?
    A. Sweden
    B. Austria
    C. Japan
    D. Poland
    Correct Answer: C. Japan
    Explanation: Japan is not mentioned as one of the twelve signatory countries of the Zero Debris Charter. The essay includes countries like Sweden, Austria, and Poland, but Japan is not listed.
  3. What is the main risk posed by space debris?
    A. It prevents space exploration entirely
    B. It can collide with operational satellites and spacecraft
    C. It increases the cost of satellite launches
    D. It obstructs communications on Earth
    Correct Answer: B. It can collide with operational satellites and spacecraft
    Explanation: Space debris poses significant risks, mainly through potential collisions with operational satellites and spacecraft, which could result in damage or destruction of these critical technologies.
  4. Which of the following initiatives is focused on tracking and managing space debris?
    A. Project NETRA
    B. Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines
    C. India’s Debris Free Space Missions (DFSM)
    D. Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
    Correct Answer: A. Project NETRA
    Explanation: Project NETRA is an initiative focused on space situational awareness, specifically designed to track and manage space debris. Other options are related to global debris mitigation guidelines and efforts.

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