Astronomy:Project NETRA

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Short description: ISRO's space-debris tracking system

Project NETRA (Network for space object TRacking and Analysis) is an indigenous space-situational-awareness (SSA) initiative of ISRO. Announced publicly in September 2019,[1] the programme gives India an independent capability to monitor, catalogue and predict orbital debris and near-Earth objects that could endanger Indian satellites.

ISRO’s Mission Operations Complex (MOX-1) at ISTRAC, Bengaluru – central hub for Project NETRA

Background

Orbital congestion has intensified with mega-constellations and anti-satellite tests, raising collision risk for India’s fleet of more than 50 operational satellites.[2] Until NETRA, ISRO relied largely on publicly available data from the United States Space Command. A 2021 internal report noted that ISRO carried out 19 collision-avoidance manoeuvres that year, up from three in 2015.[3]

Development timeline

  • 2015 – Multi-Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) commissioned at Sriharikota as a precursor SSA asset.[4]
  • 2019 – Project NETRA formally sanctioned with an initial outlay of ₹400 crore.[5]
  • 2020 – The dedicated SSA Control Centre “NETRA” at ISTRAC, Bengaluru, inaugurated by then ISRO chairman Dr K. Sivan alongside multiple industry dignitaries.[6]
  • 2024 – ISRO released its first Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) compiled using NETRA data.
  • 2025 – ISRO chairman Dr V. Narayanan inspected the Chandrapur (Assam) radar site; construction of India’s first dedicated debris-tracking phased-array radar began.[7]

Architecture and capabilities

Project NETRA integrates:[8]

  • Phased-array radars – including MOTR and the forthcoming Chandrapur system.
  • Optical telescope network – High-altitude observatories at Ponmudi, Mount Abu and Leh reach apparent magnitude 14.
  • Data fusion & control centre – Operated by the Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM) under Dr A. K. Anilkumar, the Bengaluru hub ingests sensor data, correlates orbits, predicts conjunctions and issues alerts.[9]

Sensors can detect debris as small as 10 cm in low Earth orbit (LEO) and larger objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO).

Strategic significance

NETRA strengthens India’s technological self-reliance while enhancing national security. An indigenous catalogue reduces reaction time for collision-avoidance and supports planned debris-removal missions and human-spaceflight programmes.[10]

International context

India shares SSA data with global partners and participates in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). Analysts view NETRA as elevating India to peer status with the United States, Europe and Japan in cooperative SSA.[11]

Future plans

ISRO intends to:

  • Deploy additional radars for nationwide all-weather coverage.
  • Integrate NETRA with the Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM) initiative targeting zero-debris launches by 2030.[12]
  • Explore active debris-removal technologies with domestic start-ups.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ISRO launches 'Eye in the Sky' Project NETRA". The Weather Channel. 24 September 2019. https://weather.com/en-IN/india/science/news/2019-09-24-isro-launches-project-netra. 
  2. ↑ "Space Situational Assessment 2021". ISRO. https://www.isro.gov.in/SSA.html. 
  3. ↑ Paul, Debdutta (10 May 2024). "India's plan for junk-free space missions by 2030". Nature India. https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-024-00065-z. Retrieved 22 May 2025. 
  4. ↑ "Space Debris and SSA Research Studies in ISRO". ISRO. https://www.iafi.in/system/static/uploads/mediap/Space-Debris-and-Space-Situational-Awareness-Research-Studies-in-ISRO.pdf. 
  5. ↑ "Project NETRA & Space Junk". Drishti IAS. 2 Oct 2021. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-news-analysis/netra-project-space-junk. 
  6. ↑ "ISRO SSA Control Centre inaugurated by Dr. K. Sivan". ISRO. 14 December 2020. https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO%20SSAControl%20Centre.html. 
  7. ↑ "ISRO chief inspects NETRA project site in Assam". The Sentinel. 3 April 2025. https://www.sentinelassam.com/topheadlines/isro-initiates-process-for-space-surveillance-centre-in-assam. 
  8. ↑ "NETRA Project of ISRO". iLearnCANA. https://ilearncana.com/details/NETRA-Project-of-ISRO/3131. 
  9. ↑ "ISRO SSA Control Centre inaugurated by Dr. K. Sivan". ISRO. 14 December 2020. https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO%20SSAControl%20Centre.html. 
  10. ↑ "Parliament question on space debris management". Press Information Bureau. 12 Dec 2024. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2080634. 
  11. ↑ Enabling Responsible Space Behaviours Through SSA (Report). International Institute for Strategic Studies. Apr 2025. https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library---content--migration/files/research-papers/2025/04/1-enabling-responsible-space-behaviours-through-space-situational-awareness.pdf. Retrieved 22 May 2025. 
  12. ↑ Paul, Debdutta (10 May 2024). "India's Debris-Free Space Missions initiative". Nature India. https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-024-00065-z. Retrieved 22 May 2025. 



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