Relevance: GS II (Global Treaties) & GS III (Space Tech) | Source: The Hindu 

1. What is the Core Issue? (The Crowded Sky)

• The Problem: Earlier, space was empty and peaceful. Today, private companies are sending thousands of cheap satellites into space every year.
• The Reality: Earth’s orbit is getting dangerously crowded. The real problem is not our rockets or technology; the problem is that we do not have strict global “traffic rules” for space.

2. The Massive Danger: Space Debris (Junk)

If a satellite dies and is left in space, it becomes dangerous garbage.

• The “Bullet” Effect: Even a small, coin-sized piece of a broken satellite travels at a massive speed of 28,000 km/hr. If it hits a working satellite, it hits like a bomb and destroys it completely.
• The “Kessler Syndrome” (Crucial for Prelims): This is a scary chain reaction. Imagine one crash creates 100 pieces of junk. Those 100 pieces crash into other satellites, creating 10,000 pieces. Soon, space will be so full of flying garbage that humanity will never be able to safely send rockets or use GPS again.

3. Why are Global Laws Failing?

There are three big reasons why we cannot stop this junk right now:

• Very Old Rules: Our main global law is the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. It was written 50 years ago when only America and Russia went to space. It is completely outdated for today’s private space companies.
• Hiding Information: To avoid crashes, countries need to share the exact locations of their satellites. But most countries and companies hide this data secretly for business or military reasons.
• Searching for Weak Laws: To save money, smart space companies register their businesses in countries that have very weak space laws. This way, nobody forces them to clean up their dead satellites.

4. India’s Golden Opportunity

Instead of waiting for the world to wake up, India can become a global leader:

• Strict Domestic Rules: India’s new private space regulator, IN-SPACe, can make it legally compulsory for all Indian companies to safely destroy their satellites once they stop working. We can set a “gold standard” for the world to copy.
• ISRO’s Action: India is already taking physical steps. ISRO is running Project NETRA—a special radar and telescope system designed to track flying space junk and protect Indian satellites from crashing.

The “UPSC Trap”

• The “Strict UN” Trap: UPSC will try to trick you by saying, “The United Nations guidelines on space debris are legally binding on all countries.” Incorrect. They are purely voluntary (optional) advice.
• The “Private Company” Trap: A statement might say that a private space company is solely responsible if its satellite causes damage. Incorrect. Under the 1967 Treaty, the Country (e.g., the USA or India) is held internationally responsible for whatever its private companies do in space.

UPSC Value Box

With reference to space governance and orbital debris, consider the following statements:

1. The Kessler Syndrome is a theoretical scenario describing a continuous chain reaction of collisions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
2. The United Nations Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines are legally binding and mandatory for all member states.
3. Under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, a nation is held internationally responsible for space activities conducted by its private commercial companies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)