Which of the following statements about space debris is incorrect?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Space debris poses a threat only to satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) and is negligible in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Explanation:
☛ This statement is incorrect because space debris is actually most concentrated and hazardous in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (up to 2,000 km altitude), rather than being negligible.
☛ Satellites, the International Space Station (ISS), and crewed spacecraft in LEO travel at orbital speeds of about 7 to 8 km/s, making even millimeter-sized debris capable of catastrophic damage.
☛ Space debris: Comprises inactive artificial objects in orbit around Earth, such as defunct satellites, spent rocket booster stages, discarded launch adapters, and fragments created by disintegrations or collisions.
☛ Kessler Syndrome: Formulated by NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in 1978, it describes a theoretical runaway cascade where collisions create fragments that cause further collisions, rendering orbital bands unusable.
☛ Mitigation Guidelines: The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) establishes internationally recognized guidelines, including the post-mission deorbiting of LEO satellites within 25 years and shifting GEO satellites to a "graveyard orbit".
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Project NETRA: An early warning system developed by ISRO to detect space debris and hazards to Indian satellites in Low Earth Orbit.
☛ Point Nemo: An oceanic pole of inaccessibility located in the South Pacific Ocean, famously used as a "spacecraft cemetery" for controlled deorbiting of defunct space stations and satellites.
☛ Graveyard Orbit: A supersynchronous orbit located roughly 300 km above the Geostationary Orbit (GEO), used to discard geostationary satellites at the end of their operational lifespan.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who proposed the theoretical collision cascade concept known as Kessler Syndrome in 1978? → Donald J. Kessler
☛ What is the name of ISRO's dedicated Space Situational Awareness (SSA) control centre? → NETRA (Network for space object Tracking and Analysis)
☛ What remote oceanic location serves as the disposal ground for decommissioned spacecraft? → Point Nemo
☛ Which Earth orbit contains the highest density of orbital space debris? → Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
☛ Approximately how many kilometers above Geostationary Orbit is the standard "graveyard orbit" placed? → ~300 km