In News:

The Prime Minister of India praised Indian space startup Digantara for the successful launch of Mission SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) — the world’s first commercial SSA satellite, launched via SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission.

What is Mission SCOT?

Feature                            Description

Developer                       Digantara (Indian space startup), supported by Aditya Birla Ventures & SIDBI

Launched on                  SpaceX Transporter-12 mission (rideshare platform)

Type                                First commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellite

Orbit                             Sun-Synchronous Orbit – ideal for consistent Earth observation

Function                       Tracks Resident Space Objects (RSOs) as small as 5 cm in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

What is Space Situational Awareness (SSA)?

• SSA involves the detection, tracking, cataloging, and prediction of natural and man-made objects in Earth's orbit (like satellites, debris, etc.).
• Ensures safe and sustainable operations by minimizing collision risks.
• Critical due to increasing congestion in LEO, especially with rising numbers of small satellites and mega-constellations.

Key Features of Mission SCOT

Feature                                       Advantage

High Revisit Rate                          More frequent observations of objects in orbit

Precision Tracking                        Can track debris ≥ 5 cm in size

All-Weather Monitoring               Overcomes limitations of ground-based systems like cloud cover, FoV

Space-based System                      Unhindered by geography, providing continuous global surveillance

Supports SSA Infrastructure       Aids in collision avoidance, space traffic management, and defence preparedness

???????? India’s SSA Ecosystem

Initiative                                                                     Role

ISRO’s IS4OM                                                          Provides Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR); enables safe & sustainable space operations

NETRA Project                                                 Network for Space Objects Tracking & Analysis – aims to build a dedicated SST (Space Surveillance & Tracking) network using radars & optical telescopes

Multi-Object Tracking Radar                                Operated at Sriharikota – limited range, being augmented

Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAMs)           Regularly performed by ISRO to protect its satellites from debris threats

Global Context: Transporter-12 Rideshare

• A SpaceX program providing low-cost access to space by allowing multiple customers to launch small payloads on a single rocket.
• Enhances global commercial space activity, democratizes space access.

Significance for India

Strategic:

• Strengthens national space defence by enabling indigenous tracking of space threats.
• Reduces reliance on foreign SSA data (e.g., NORAD/US Space Command).

Technological:

• Demonstrates India’s capability in space-based surveillance tech.
• Positions India as a global contributor in the emerging SSA domain.

Economic:

• Boosts private sector space innovation aligned with India’s NewSpace Policy.
• Attracts venture capital and international collaboration.