ISRO executes Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres; India advances space debris mitigation and tracking

What happened: ISRO executes collision avoidance manoeuvres and expands tracking

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported collision risk management actions for satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where the number of space objects is denser. ISRO executed 20 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAMs) in 2025. For 2026, ISRO reported 9 CAMs executed so far. India’s space debris mitigation and tracking work also includes ongoing use and planned upgrades of space object monitoring systems, including radar capability at Sriharikota and an optical telescope under the Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) project at Hanle.

Background and earlier position: why LEO collisions are a key risk

Space in LEO (altitude less than 2000 km) is more vulnerable to collision risk because of a higher population of space objects. The government stated that 20 active Indian satellites in LEO out of 22 active satellites are at higher risk. For tracking, the government noted a role for a multi-object tracking radar (MOTR) at Sriharikota that is currently capable of tracking large objects in LEO and has been utilised to track objects.

What changed now: policy preparation on liability and insurance, plus planned tracking capability

A policy framework addressing State’s liability towards third-party damages arising due to Indian Space Objects was formulated by IN-SPACe. The government stated that the policy framework and associated guidelines on liability and insurance aspects are presently under consideration. On tracking capability, the government reported that the upcoming optical telescope at Hanle (Ladakh) under the NETRA project is nearing completion. The optical telescope is planned to be capable of tracking objects of size 30 cm or bigger at GEO altitude (Geostationary Earth Orbit altitude).