What is POEM?
POEM, in this context, stands for PSLV Orbital Experimental Module.
It's an initiative by the ISRO.
Debris in space: Refers to human-made objects (satellites, rocket parts, etc.) left behind in orbit that pose a collision risk to operational spacecraft.
POEM: Aims to minimize debris.
It involves using the fourth stage of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) as a temporary platform for scientific experiments in space.
After completing the experiments, POEM is designed to safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up, leaving minimal to no debris behind.
What has POEM-3 achieved?
POEM-3, the third iteration of the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module.
Its Successfully achieved all its payload objectives, according to the ISRO.
Unfortunately, specific details about the payloads and their achievements aren't readily available from publicly accessible sources.
However, we can infer some possibilities:
Scientific experiments: POEM-3 likely carried scientific experiments that required a microgravity environment.
These experiments could have been in various fields like space physics, materials science, or biology.
Their success would involve collecting the desired data and functioning as planned in orbit.
Technology demonstration: POEM-3 might have been used to demonstrate new space technologies like miniaturized satellites or innovative control systems.
Success in this case would be proving the technology functioned as expected in space.
Why is this significant?
A key aspect of POEM (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) is its design to minimize space debris.
Unlike typical rocket launches that leave behind spent stages.
POEM-3 re-enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
This will reduce the amount of human-made objects cluttering space and posing a collision risk to operational spacecraft.
POEM-3's successful mission in January 2024 demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.
POEM-3 likely carried scientific experiments that required a microgravity environment.
A successful mission implies these experiments functioned as planned and gathered valuable data that could contribute to advancements in various fields like space physics, materials science, or biology.
POEM-3 might have been used to test and demonstrate new space technologies.
This could include miniaturized satellites, innovative control systems, or other advancements.
A successful mission signifies that these technologies functioned as expected in space, paving the way for their potential future use in larger space missions.
While details are limited, POEM-3 potentially represents a step towards a reusable platform for microgravity experiments.
Unlike dedicated satellites, using a reusable platform like POEM could be more cost-effective and allow for more frequent experiments.
How are space agencies dealing with debris?
Space agencies are tackling space debris with a two-pronged approach.
1) Mitigating future debris creation
2) Actively removing existing debris.
Here's a breakdown of their efforts:
Mitigating Debris Creation:
International guidelines like the "Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines" by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) set standards for limiting debris generation.
These include requirements for passivating satellites after their lifespan (preventing explosions) and designing them for de-orbiting at
mission end (controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere).
Reinforcing spacecraft with shielding can minimize damage from small debris impacts, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for replacements that create more debris.
Designing rockets with fewer stages reduces the number of objects left in orbit after launch.
Actively Removing Existing Debris:
Several technologies are under development for removing existing debris. These include:
Harpoons and Nets: Techniques that grapple debris for deorbiting or controlled disposal.
Deorbit Sails: Attaching sails to debris that use
atmospheric drag to slow them down and cause re-entry.
Space Tugs: Robotic spacecraft that could capture and deorbit debris.
Lasers: Theoretical proposals for using lasers to vaporize small debris or alter their orbits.
Several space agencies are involved in missions to demonstrate debris removal technologies.
Examples include:
Successfully tested various capture technologies on dummy debris objects in low Earth orbit.
Planned mission to remove a defunct satellite from orbit using a robotic arm.
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