India’s Cartosat-2 satellite, launched in 2007, has completed its mission and re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, announced the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday.
According to ISRO, the high-resolution imaging satellite, Cartosat-2, made its descent into the Earth’s atmosphere on February 14, 2024, as anticipated. The space agency had previously lowered its orbit from 635 km to 380 km by early 2020.
ISRO emphasized that this strategic decision aimed to minimize space debris and underscored its commitment to sustainable space exploration.
Initially weighing 680 kg at launch, Cartosat-2 operated in a Sun-synchronous Polar orbit at an altitude of 635 km. Until 2019, it provided valuable high-resolution imagery for urban planning purposes.
Originally projected to take approximately 30 years to naturally de-orbit, ISRO opted to expedite the process by lowering its perigee using residual fuel, aligning with international guidelines on space debris mitigation.
This initiative aimed to reduce collision risks and ensure the safe disposal of the satellite at the end of its operational life, following recommendations from esteemed organizations such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPOUS) and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), ISRO noted.
ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations (IS4OM) team at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) accurately predicted Cartosat-2’s atmospheric re-entry for February 14, 2024.
The satellite’s electrical passivation was successfully completed on February 14th, with tracking continuing until re-entry. The final telemetry frames confirmed the successful passivation, with the satellite reaching an altitude of about 130 km. ISRO then monitored the satellite using its multi-object tracking radar at its rocket port in Sriharikota.
Analysis indicated that all major spacecraft components would safely demise during atmospheric re-entry. Cartosat-2’s successful de-orbiting at the end of its operational life represents a significant milestone for ISRO in ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
