Strengthening India’s Orbital Security: ISRO’s New Radar Facility in Assam

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken a significant step toward securing India’s space assets by laying the foundation for the ISTRAC Advanced Radar Research Facility (IARRF) in Chandrapur, Assam. This strategic infrastructure project is a critical component of ISRO’s 'Project NETRA' (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis), an initiative designed to monitor and protect India’s space-based assets from the growing threats of space debris and potential hostile maneuvers in orbit. As India expands its footprint in space with ambitious missions, the density of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) has increased, raising the risk of collisions. Project NETRA serves as an early warning system, providing precise tracking data to mitigate these risks. By establishing this facility in the Northeast, ISRO is not only decentralizing its technological infrastructure but also enhancing its geographical coverage for tracking space objects, which is vital for maintaining the safety and longevity of Indian satellites.