Chennai, Feb 16 (IANS) India’s cartograph satellite Cartosat-2 launched in 2007 successfully re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday.
“Cartosat-2, ISRO’s high-resolution imaging satellite, bid adieu with a descent into Earth’s atmosphere on February 14, 2024, as predicted. ISRO had lowered its orbit from 635 km to 380 km by early 2020,” the Indian space agency said.
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“This strategic move minimised space debris and underscores ISRO’s commitment to sustainable space exploration,” ISRO added.
Weighing 680 kg at launch, the Cartosat-2 was operated in a Sun-synchronous Polar orbit at an altitude of 635 km. Until 2019, it provided high-resolution imagery for urban planning.
Initially, the satellite was expected to take about 30 years to naturally de-orbit. However, ISRO opted to lower its perigee using leftover fuel to comply with international guidelines on space debris mitigation.
This involved reducing collision risks and ensuring safe end-of-life disposal, following recommendations from organisations like the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPOUS) and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), ISRO said.
ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations (IS4OM) team at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) predicted Cartosat-2’s atmospheric re-entry for February 14, 2024.
Electrical passivation was completed on February 14th, and tracking continued until re-entry.
The final telemetry frames confirmed successful passivation, with the satellite reaching about 130 km altitude. ISRO then tracked the satellite by its multi-object tracking radar at its rocket port in Sriharikota.
The final prediction placed Cartosat-2’s re-entry over the Indian Ocean at 3:48 pm IST on February 14.
Analysis indicated that all major spacecraft components would demise during atmospheric re-entry. Cartosat-2’s successful de-orbiting at its end-of-life represents a significant step for ISRO in ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
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