Syllabus: Science & Tech
Source: TH
Context: India approved a ₹27,000-crore programme to launch 52 surveillance satellites from 2026.
- Reports suggest India is also considering “bodyguard satellites” to protect its space assets after near-miss incidents.
About: Protecting India’s Satellites:
Need for Protecting India’s Satellites
- Vital role – Satellites are the backbone for communication, navigation (NavIC), weather forecasts, internet, defence and surveillance, making them critical for national security and economy.
- Multiple threats – They face risks from space debris, collisions, hostile manoeuvres, jamming, spoofing, cyber intrusions, and solar storms that can disrupt services or destroy satellites.
- High costs – Launching and maintaining satellites involves billions; protecting them ensures return on investment and safeguards India’s strategic autonomy.
Initiatives Taken:
- IS4OM Centre (Bengaluru) – Tracks Indian satellites and issues timely alerts for possible collisions, enabling manoeuvres to prevent accidents.
- Project NETRA – Expanding India’s space surveillance with radars and telescopes to build indigenous space situational awareness capabilities.
- Aditya-L1 Mission – Observes the sun to forecast solar storms and coronal mass ejections that could damage satellites’ electronics and shorten orbital lifespans.
- CERT-In Guidelines (2025) – Mandate strong encryption, network segmentation, and cyber hygiene protocols to safeguard satellites from hacking attempts.
- IN-SPACe Licensing – Ensures private space firms adopt safety standards so that commercialisation of space remains secure and reliable.
- Debris-Free Space Mission by 2030 – India’s pledge to avoid space debris creation and adopt sustainable practices announced at IADC 2024.
Bodyguard Satellites
- What it is?
- Special satellites designed to escort and shield India’s high-value orbital assets from external threats.
- Monitor close approaches – They can detect when foreign satellites or debris move dangerously close to Indian spacecraft.
- Warn against manoeuvres – Capable of identifying suspicious activities such as shadowing or hostile proximity operations.
- Physical intervention – May reposition themselves or the protected satellite to prevent collisions or jamming.
- Global alignment – Reflects global defence trends where major powers are developing proximity and protection satellites.
Challenges:
- Technological – Requires advanced sensors, AI-based autonomy, and precision manoeuvring not yet fully mastered by India.
- Financial – Developing and deploying escort satellites involves high costs, demanding sustained budgetary commitment.
- Cybersecurity – Ground stations and user terminals remain weak links vulnerable to hacking or spoofing attacks.
- Geopolitical – Deployment of defensive satellites may trigger mistrust or arms race in outer space among global powers.
- Sustainability – Protecting satellites must not worsen the problem of orbital debris or overcrowding in space.
Way Ahead:
- Indigenous SSA tech – Invest in LiDAR-based and radar satellites to strengthen India’s ability to track debris and hostile movements.
- Anti-jamming systems – Develop encrypted signals, hardened waveforms, and autonomous avoidance technologies for resilience.
- Public–Private partnerships – Leverage start-ups and private industry to innovate low-cost solutions for satellite safety.
- Global engagement – Actively participate in COPUOS, IADC and multilateral platforms to promote responsible space behaviour.
- Defensive-first strategy – Focus on sustainable, non-weaponised measures that ensure security without escalating conflict.
Conclusion:
Protecting satellites is no longer optional but a strategic imperative for India’s security and economy. A layered defence of technology, governance, and diplomacy is essential. With careful planning, India can secure its orbital assets while championing peaceful, sustainable use of space.
