Why in the news?

  • The MMOD protection scheme for Gaganyaan follows internationally recognised standards, incorporating passive protective measures such as Whipple shields.

Micrometeoroids

  • What is it?: They are typically extremely small meteoroid particles, with sizes ranging from a few micrometers to up to two millimeters.
  • Features:
    • They originate from collisions between asteroids as well as from comets.
    • They travel at extremely high velocities.

Orbital Debris

  • What is it?: They are human-made objects in the Earth’s orbit that no longer serve any useful purpose.
  • Features: Originated from exploded rocket stages, satellites, accidental collisions, and intentional anti-satellite weapon tests.
Kessler’s Syndrome:

  • With the increasing density of space debris, there could be a theoretical scenario that collisions between them cause a cascade of further collisions and space debris generation, eventually making space travel impossible.

Whipple Shields:

  • A passive method of protecting satellites from the impacts of MMODs.
  • They shatter the incoming high velocity debris into a cloud of fragments and thereby protect the satellite from harm from collision with space debris.

Source: The Hindu

 

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