Chandrapur to Host India’s First Space Debris Monitoring Radar Under ISRO’s Project Netra

During his visit to the proposed site for Project Netra (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis) in Chandrapur, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan announced on Wednesday that the space agency aims to make one radar operational within this financial year.

Project Netra is an early warning system designed to detect space debris and other potential threats to Indian satellites. The planned radar in Chandrapur will play a crucial role in tracking objects in space, enhancing India’s space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities.

Dr. Narayanan emphasized that ISRO is committed to strengthening its ability to monitor and mitigate risks posed by space debris, ensuring the safety and longevity of India's space assets.

The Project Netra radar in Chandrapur will be India’s first space debris monitoring system, marking a significant milestone in the country’s space surveillance capabilities. The project is being developed on 200 bighas of land at the site of a defunct thermal power plant in Chandrapur.

Project Netra aims to establish a network of observational facilities, including optical telescopes, radars, and a command center, to track space debris and other potential threats to Indian satellites. This initiative will enhance India’s space situational awareness (SSA), ensuring better monitoring and mitigation of risks in Earth's orbit.

"We are coming in a big way. Though a network of radars, we are going to monitor all the objects in space," Dr Narayanan, who was accompanied by State Science & Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta and other senior officials, said.
The ISRO chairman on Tuesday evening had a meeting with top officials and Mahanta and discussed the state government's plan to have its own satellite. "The ISRO chairman assured all help and support. After getting his views, we can now prepare our action plan," Mahanta said.