Satellite Communications' Importance
Satellite communication is essential in daily life. Even for one day, if the services are cut off, everyday operations get hampered. Satellite protection during an emergency such as war becomes highly necessary. In the past, Indian satellites also had close encounters in space. To reduce these threats, the government is considering "Bodyguard Satellites." These will detect potential dangers and prevent them in advance.
Satellite Position and Dangers
Indian satellites will be positioned around the Earth at an altitude of 500–600 kilometers mid-2024. Also, at the same altitude, Elon Musk's Starlink satellites fly in large numbers. Earlier, a neighboring country's spacecraft flew close to an Indian defense satellite. The space was close, less than a kilometer. Sometimes countries undertake such actions intentionally as a power demonstration.
Project Details
50 surveillance satellites will be placed by the government. The project cost will be around Rs. 270 crore. Next year is when the launch will happen. India has faced many wars with Pakistan and China in the last seven decades. China has progressed a lot in space. Pakistan has only eight satellites, but China has over 930. India has also crossed 100 satellites. To promote satellite security, the government is partnering with startups. It is planning to initiate Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) satellites. These satellites will send data to ground command centers, allowing for real-time response.
Supporting Ground Systems
Former head of ISRO Capacity Building Office Sudhir Kumar asserted ground radars and telescopes are needed. He further explained that India currently lacks systems for 24-hour orbits monitoring. However, there are startups developing these solutions.
Operation Sindoor
During the Operation Sindoor, about 400 scientists worked day and night to gather crucial information. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has asserted this at a meeting called on September 9.
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