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Project NETRA (Network for space object TRacking and Analysis) is an indigenous space-situational-awareness (SSA) initiative of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Announced publicly in September 2019,[1] the programme gives India an independent capability to monitor, catalogue and predict orbital debris and near-Earth objects that could endanger Indian satellites.

ISRO’s Mission Operations Complex (MOX-1) at ISTRAC, Bengaluru – central hub for Project NETRA

Background

Orbital congestion has intensified with mega-constellations and anti-satellite tests, raising collision risk for India’s fleet of more than 50 operational satellites.[2] Until NETRA, ISRO relied largely on publicly available data from the United States Space Command. A 2021 internal report noted that ISRO carried out 19 collision-avoidance manoeuvres that year, up from three in 2015.[3]

Development timeline

  • 2015 – Multi-Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) commissioned at Sriharikota as a precursor SSA asset.[4]
  • 2019 – Project NETRA formally sanctioned with an initial outlay of ₹400 crore.[5]
  • 2020 – The dedicated SSA Control Centre “NETRA” at ISTRAC, Bengaluru, inaugurated by then ISRO chairman Dr K. Sivan; dignitaries included P. Kunhikrishnan (Director, URSC), R. Umamaheswaran (Scientific Secretary), Dr A. K. Anilkumar (Director, DSSAM), Dr Satyajit Beura (Research Scholar, MMU) and many more.[6]
  • 2024 – ISRO released its first Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) compiled using NETRA data.[7]
  • 2025 – ISRO chairman Dr V. Narayanan inspected the Chandrapur (Assam) radar site; construction of India’s first dedicated debris-tracking phased-array radar began.[8]

Architecture and capabilities

Project NETRA integrates:[9]

  • Phased-array radars – including MOTR and the forthcoming Chandrapur system.
  • Optical telescope network – High-altitude observatories at Ponmudi, Mount Abu and Leh reach apparent magnitude 14.
  • Data fusion & control centre – Operated by the **Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM)** under **Dr A. K. Anilkumar**, the Bengaluru hub ingests sensor data, correlates orbits, predicts conjunctions and issues alerts.[10]

Sensors can detect debris as small as 10 cm in low Earth orbit (LEO) and larger objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO).

Strategic significance

NETRA strengthens India’s technological self-reliance while enhancing national security. An indigenous catalogue reduces reaction time for collision-avoidance and supports planned debris-removal missions and human-spaceflight programmes.[11]

International context

India shares SSA data with global partners and participates in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). Analysts view NETRA as elevating India to peer status with the United States, Europe and Japan in cooperative SSA.[12]

Future plans

ISRO intends to:

  • Deploy additional radars for nationwide all-weather coverage.
  • Integrate NETRA with the Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM) initiative targeting zero-debris launches by 2030.[13]
  • Explore active debris-removal technologies with domestic start-ups.

See also

References

  1. ^ "ISRO launches 'Eye in the Sky' Project NETRA". The Weather Channel. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Space Situational Assessment 2021". ISRO. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  3. ^ "India's plan for junk-free space missions by 2030". Nature. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Space Debris and SSA Research Studies in ISRO" (PDF). ISRO. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Project NETRA & Space Junk". Drishti IAS. 2 Oct 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  6. ^ "ISRO SSA Control Centre inaugurated by Dr. K. Sivan". ISRO. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Space Situational Awareness – Current Affairs". Vision IAS. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  8. ^ "ISRO chief inspects NETRA project site in Assam". The Sentinel. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  9. ^ "NETRA Project of ISRO". iLearnCANA. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  10. ^ "ISRO SSA Control Centre inaugurated by Dr. K. Sivan". ISRO. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Parliament question on space debris management". Press Information Bureau. 12 Dec 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  12. ^ Enabling Responsible Space Behaviours Through SSA (PDF) (Report). International Institute for Strategic Studies. Apr 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  13. ^ "India's Debris-Free Space Missions initiative". Nature. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
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