A Conference on Cosmic Housekeeping
Earlier this year, leaders from the global space community gathered in Bengaluru for the International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS-2026). Jointly organised by ISRO, the Astronautical Society of India, and the International Academy
of Astronautics, the event's theme was telling: "Innovative Operations for Smart and Sustainable Space Mission Management." Instead of focusing solely on new rockets or distant planets, the dialogue centered on the less glamorous but critically important work of managing our activities in orbit. The core question was how to ensure that as we send more technology into space, we don't inadvertently trap ourselves on Earth by creating an impassable barrier of junk.
What Are 'Sustainable Operations'?
Imagine a highway with no rules, where every car, once it breaks down, is simply abandoned in the middle of a lane. This is the challenge in Earth's orbit. 'Sustainable operations' is the term for managing this cosmic traffic jam. For decades, every launch has left something behind: defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from accidental collisions or military tests. This cloud of space debris travels at incredible speeds, turning even a small paint chip into a potential satellite-killer. The primary concern is a cascading chain reaction known as the Kessler Syndrome, where one collision creates debris that causes more collisions, eventually making certain orbits entirely unusable. With tens of thousands of new satellites planned for launch, managing this risk has become a top priority for all space-faring nations.
India’s Blueprint for a Cleaner Orbit
India, through ISRO, has moved from acknowledging the problem to actively building solutions. The ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM), established in 2022, serves as the nerve centre for this effort. A key component is Project NETRA (Network for space object Tracking and Analysis), an early warning system that uses radars and telescopes to track potential threats, allowing ISRO to move its active satellites out of harm's way. In 2023 alone, Indian satellites performed 21 such collision avoidance maneuvers. Furthermore, ISRO is now a leader in post-mission disposal. Instead of abandoning rocket stages in orbit, new protocols involve saving enough fuel to guide them back into Earth's atmosphere, where they safely burn up.
The 2030 'Debris-Free' Mission
ISRO has set an ambitious national goal: the Debris Free Space Mission (DFSM) initiative. Announced in 2024, the goal is for all Indian space activities, both governmental and private, to effectively produce zero new debris by 2030. This forward-thinking policy requires building sustainability into the design of every mission from the very beginning. It means launch vehicles and satellites must be designed with a clear end-of-life plan, ensuring they can be safely de-orbited within a set timeframe. This commitment positions India as a responsible leader in the global push for cleaner space practices and aligns with United Nations guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
Technology and Teamwork for the Future
While preventing new debris is crucial, the question of cleaning up existing junk remains. This is where advanced technologies come in. ISRO is conducting studies on active debris removal, exploring concepts like robotic arms to capture and de-orbit defunct objects. The successful SpaDeX mission in 2025, which demonstrated autonomous rendezvous and docking, was a significant step toward developing these capabilities. However, technology alone isn't enough. The space debris problem is intrinsically international. India actively collaborates with agencies like NASA and ESA and is a member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), contributing to the global rulebook for space conduct.
