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Distribution: weekly

  • Reporting cyber attacks

    Context

    The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is likely to come out with new cyber security regulations which will put the onus on organisations to report any cybercrime that may have happened against them, including data leaks.

    Damages inflicted by the cyber crimes

    • Apart from private firms, government services, especially critical utilities, are prone to cyber attacks and breach incidents.
    • The ransomware attack against the nationwide gas pipeline in 2021 in the U.S. virtually brought down the transportation of about 45% of all petrol and diesel consumed on the east coast.
    • If it were measured as a country, then cyber crime — which is predicted to inflict damages totalling $6 trillion globally in 2021 — would be the world’s third-largest economy after the U.S. and China.

    Provision for reporting the cybercrime

    • Clause 25 in the Data Protection Bill 2021 says that data fiduciaries should report any personal and non-personal data breach incident within 72 hours of becoming aware of a breach.
    • Clause in EU GDPR: Even the golden standard for data protection, namely the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR), has a clause for reporting data breach incidents within a stringent timeline.
    •  This, in principle, is likely to improve cyber security and reduce attacks and breaches.

    Why reporting cybercrime is important

    • Alerting other organisations: If incidences are reported, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and others can alert organisations about the associated security vulnerabilities.
    • Precautionary measures: Firms not yet affected can also take precautionary measures such as deploying security patches and improving their cyber security infrastructure.
    • Why firms are reluctant to notify the crime? Any security or privacy breach has a negative impact on the reputation of the associated firms.
    • An empirical study by Comparitech indicates that the share prices for firms generally fall around 3.5% on average over three months following the breach.
    • So, firms weigh the penalties they face for not disclosing the incidents versus the potential reputational harm due to disclosure, and decide accordingly.

    Possible solutions

    • Periodic cyber security audits:  How will the regulator come to know when a firm does not disclose a security breach?
    • It can be done only through periodic cyber security audits.
    •  Unfortunately, the regulators in most countries including India do not have such capacity to conduct security audits frequently and completely.
    • Empanel third-party auditors: The government can empanel third party cyber security auditors for the conduct of periodical cyber security impact assessments, primarily amongst all the government departments, both at the national and State level, so that security threats and incidents can be detected proactively and incidents averted.
    • Evaluation and Certification of cyber security: The Ministry, as part of cyber security assurance initiatives of the Government of India, to evaluate and certify IT security products and protection profiles, has set up Common Criteria Testing Laboratories and certification bodies across the country.
    • These schemes can be extended towards cyber security audits and assessments as well.
    • Security command centre:  Much like IBM, which set up a large cyber security command centre in Bengaluru, other large firms can also be encouraged to set up such centres for protection of their firms’ assets.

    Consider the question “Reporting cyber security breaches is important. Yet, firms are reluctant to report the breaches. Examine the reasons for reluctance on part of the firms and suggest the way forward.”

    Conclusion

    Such measures will also pass the muster of the EU GDPR, thereby moving India closer to the set of countries that have the same level of cyber security and data protection as that of EU, for seamless cross-border data flow.

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  • What is the Munich Security Conference (MSC)?

    The latest edition of MSC a week ago assumed significance as it was here that the Ukrainian President appealed for help ahead of the Russian invasion.

    Munich Security Conference

    • The Munich Security Conference is an annual conference on international security policy that has been held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany since 1963.
    • It brings together heads of state, diplomats and business leaders from the world’s leading democracies for three days of meetings and presentations.
    • It is the world’s largest gathering of its kind.
    • Over the past four decades the MSC has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers.

    How did it begin?

    • When the MSC was founded in 1963, it was envisioned as a way for leaders, mostly from the West, to discuss threats and dangers in an informal setting.
    • Most of the concerns at the time stemmed from the Cold War, which had dominated world politics for nearly a half-century.
    • Over time, the conference evolved into a platform for airing grievances and workshopping political agreements, some of them outside the realm of East-West relations.
    • In recent years, the conference has often invited leaders from authoritarian countries, and even adversaries, to speak.

     

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  • [Burning Issue] Ukraine Crisis and India

    Context

    • It is being perceived as a tightrope walk for India, taking a more neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
    • It is widely said that India’s statement at the UN lacked condemnation of the Russian invasion.
    • War makes no sense to anyone. But during these circumstances, we may raise one question:

    “Why the West is pretending to need India against the war in Ukraine?”

    Ans. For a country that claims to be a vishwaguru or world teacher, India’s shortsighted stance on critical geopolitical is a big surprise to the world.

    Another narrative is– The west in spite of averting the crisis alone, is seeking our help. They are just trying to demonize India (as they usually did). They understand India’s interests and compulsions perfectly.

    India-Ukraine Relations: A backgrounder

    • With a population of over 40 million and an area of about 600,000 sq km, Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe.
    • India has an extensive bilateral relationship with Ukraine, spanning all spheres of cooperation. India was one of the first countries to recognize Ukraine.
    • India recognized the Republic of Ukraine as a sovereign country in December 1991 and established diplomatic relations in January 1992.
    • The Embassy of India in Kyiv was opened in May 1992.  Ukraine opened its Mission in Delhi in February 1993 – its first in Asia.

    (1) Trade

    • Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown significantly in the last 25 years.
    • As per data from the Indian government, the bilateral trade between the two nations stood at $2.3 billion so far this fiscal, compared with $2.5 billion in the last fiscal (FY21). 
    • India is Ukraine’s largest export destination in the Asia-Pacific and the fifth largest overall export destination.

    (2) Diplomacy

    • India and Ukraine have signed several MOUs/Agreements in many spheres.
    • These include Diplomatic relations, visa matters, consular matters, trade and commercial matters, space, science and technology, defense, etc.

    (3) Culture

    • There is a great interest in Indian culture in Ukraine at the public level, covering various aspects such as dances, yoga, philosophy, Ayurveda and spirituality.
    • Many Indian movies have also been shot in Ukraine, for example most recent being the ‘Bahubali 2: The Conclusion’.
    • A small but vibrant Indian community lives in Ukraine, comprising mostly of business professionals and students.
    • There are about 18,000 Indian students studying in Ukraine, mainly in the field of medicine.

    Why is Russia invading Ukraine now?

    • Undoing historic injustice: President Putin has frequently accused Ukraine of being taken over by extremists, ever since its pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted in 2014 after months of protests against his rule.
    • Ukraine’s affinity towards West and NATO: Russia has long resisted Ukraine’s move towards the European Union and the West’s defensive military alliance, NATO.
    • So-called ‘oppression’ in Ukraine: It is now clear that Russia is seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s democratically elected government. Its aim is that Ukraine be freed from oppression and “cleansed of the Nazis”.

    Why is this war a no-lesser significant event?

    Russia’s attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a clear violation of the rules-based international order.

    • First war of the century: These are terrifying times for the world, witnessing a major power invading a European neighbour for the first time since World War II.
    • Annexation of a democratic nation: For Europe’s leaders, this invasion has brought some of the darkest hours since the 1940s.
    • Covid disruptions: The global economic landscape, in a post-Covid situation, is in a shambles.
    • Intense militarization: The military industrial complex everywhere will be strengthened. As more and more armament is used up in the conflicts and more arms are manufactured.
    • Heading up towards mutually assured destruction

    India’s position on this war so far

    (1) India is subtle to Russia

    • New Delhi has taken a subtle pro-Moscow position on the question of Russian attacks against Ukraine.
    • This pro-Russia tilt is not just the position of the Indian government, but is something, somewhat surprisingly, shared by much of the Indian strategic community as well.

    (2) Evacuation of Indians remain a priority

    • Ukraine has sought India’s support in its fight against the Russian forces.
    • In an emotional appeal, Ukrainian ambassador urged PM Modi for a personal intervention.
    • Hundreds of Indian students remain stranded in Ukraine and its border which is seemingly India’s topmost priority.

    How would the war impact India?

    (1) Economic Impact

    • This war has immediate consequences for global trade, capital flows, financial markets and access to technology.
    • It can hurt Asia through multiple channels, such as:
    • Tighter global financial conditions
    • Elevated uncertainty and the risk of weaker global demand
    • Higher commodity prices, especially oil

    (2) Impact on diaspora

    • According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, there are around 18,095 Indian students in the country. In 2020, 24 per cent of its overseas students were from India.
    • Ukrainian medical colleges are a godsend for students who are unable to get seats in government colleges or afford the hefty prices charged by private institutions in India. 

    (3) Geo-political impact

    (discussed below)

    India’s dilemma

    • India may not share a border with either Russia or Ukraine, and as many intellectual elites have already argued, the case for New Delhi not taking sides is straightforward.
    • The West’s critical sanctions will inhibit any nation (including India) from doing business with Russia and potentially diversify Russia-India ties.

    India needs Russia

    • Arms trade: Russia is one of India’s largest arms suppliers and a key strategic ally. More than half of India’s arms imports between 2016-2020 were from Russia.
    • Independent foreign policy: India’s special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia as a totem of Indian strategic autonomy.
    • Multi-polarity and institutional reforms: India shares Russia’s goal of a multipolar world. It is a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and of BRICS, a loose grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

    What message has India’s silence conveyed?

    • India is neither openly criticizing nor endorsing Russian actions.
    • However, this radio silence is seen as an endorsement of war.

    Why is India silent?

    Ans. The elephant in the room is China. Because “Power often triumphs principles.”

    • China’s political patronage to Russia: A deepening global crisis would allow Russia to deepen its ties with China for political support, market access and technology.
    • Decline of US hegemony: A US-led international order now seems pretty much over, anchored as it was by financial imperialism through dollar-dependence, a petro-dollar market and via strategic military dominance.
    • Open opportunism for China: It is likely to use this opportunity to exhaust America’s foreign policy attention-capital away from its strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
    • Balancing China: This circumstances could negatively affect the coordinated approach that Delhi seeks among like-minded partners to balance China.

    Western narratives of India’s position

    • Maintaining influence: India’s recent effort aims to “reclaim” or expand its “sphere of influence” in the Indian subcontinent.
    • Endorsing unification through revivalism: It creates a rhetoric around the integrated creation of Akhand Bharat is part of the thought process of right wing factions.
    • India’s territorial overtures for future: There have been voices of reclaiming Pakistan occupied Kashmir using the clouds of this war.

    Is India doing a mistake?

    • Russian justifications for its actions against Ukraine are similar to those Beijing makes versus India:
    • Historical claims on territory
    • Ethnic Linkages
    • This military action would go against the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty for which India frequently advocates.
    • Moscow may or may not be able to moderate Chinese antagonism towards New Delhi.
    • The hawks and the far right wing will gain popularity due to this war.

    Threats remain to India

    This war on Ukraine could have major implications for India’s strategic calculus:

    • Increasing Chinese assertion: It will no doubt embolden China and its territorial ambitions.
    • Sanctions on defense trade: India may be sanctioned by the US if it continues with the S-400 missile system deal, but also could extend to future defense purchases.
    • Pakistan Proximity: Pressure from the West on Russia will move it closer to India’s adversaries, China and Pakistan.

    Options for India

    There are four potential options India can/could choose from:

    1. Condemn
    2. Support
    3. Stay silent or
    4. Express displeasure and call for diplomacy

    The first option will pit India against Russia, the second will pit it against the U.S. and its allies, the third option will be read as pro-Russia, and the fourth option — which it has taken — is the least harmful.

    Way forward

    • Geopolitical priority: India’s Russia tilt should be seen not just as a product of its time-tested friendship with Moscow but also as a geopolitical necessity.
    • Upholding morality: However, with the rise of right-wing populism and authoritarianism across the globe, moments such as this in history, warrant bold, corrective action – and more importantly, a principled, moral outlook.
    • Upholding democratic principles: Silently siding with Russian imperial nostalgia, India’s “balanced posturing” and silent endorsement of the Russian president may hurt India’s credentials as a democratic republic.
    • No factionist divisions: India must also make it clear to coercing countries that their “with us or against us” formulations are hardly constructive. There are no innocents in this conflict.

  • Places in news: Chernobyl

     

    Ukrainian authorities said that radiation levels had increased in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after the Russian Invasion.

    What is Chernobyl Disaster?

    • The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of Ukraine (formerly USSR).
    • It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history both in cost and casualties.
    • It is one of only two nuclear energy accidents rated at seven—the maximum severity—on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
    • The other such incident was the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan.

    Destruction caused

    • Some sources state that two people were killed in the initial explosions, whereas others report that the figure was closer to 50.
    • Dozens more people contracted serious radiation sickness; some of them later died.
    • Between 50 and 185 million curies of radionuclides (radioactive forms of chemical elements) escaped into the atmosphere.
    • This is several times more radioactivity than that created by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
    • This radioactivity was spread by the wind over Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine and soon reached as far west as France and Italy.

     

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  • Who was Lachit Borphukan?

    The Prime Minister has paid tribute to Lachit Borphukan on Lachit Diwas.

    Who was Lachit Borphukan?

    • The year was 1671 and the decisive Battle of Saraighat was fought on the raging waters of the Brahmaputra.
    • On one side was Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s army headed by Ram Singh of Amer (Jaipur) and on the other was the Ahom General Lachit Borphukan.
    • He was a commander in the Ahom kingdom, located in present-day Assam.
    • Ram Singh failed to make any advance against the Assamese army during the first phase of the war.
    • Lachit Borphukan emerged victorious in the war and the Mughals were forced to retreat from Guwahati.

    Lachit Diwas

    • On 24 November each year, Lachit Divas is celebrated state-wide in Assam to commemorate the heroism of Lachit Borphukan.
    • On this day, Borphukan has defeated the Mughal army on the banks of the Brahmaputra in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671.
    • The best passing out cadet of National Defence Academy has been conferred the Lachit gold medal every year since 1999 commemorating his valor.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.What was the immediate cause for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?

    (a) He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore

    (b) The frustrated governor of Jullundhar Adina Beg khan invited him to invade Punjab

    (c) He wanted to punish Mughal administration for non-payment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahal (Gujrat Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur)

    (d) He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab upto borders of Delhi to his kingdom

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”gfhjtcxbnt” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answer here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • In news: P-8I Aircraft

    Aviation and defence colossus Boeing delivered India’s 12th maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare P-8I aircraft.

    P-8I Aircraft

    • It is a multi-mission aircraft with state of the art sensors, proven weapons systems, and a globally recognised platform.
    • The first aircraft produced by Boeing flew in 2009, and has been in service with the US Navy since 2013, the same year as the Indian Navy.
    • Apart from India and the US, it has been chosen by six other militaries in the world.
    • The aircraft has two variants — the P-8I, which is manufactured for the Indian Navy, and the P-8A Poseidon.
    • The aircraft is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

    Naval operations

    • While the Indian Navy uses it for maritime operations, the aircraft was also used in eastern Ladakh in 2020 and 2021, when the standoff with China was at its peak.
    • The aircraft for the Indian Navy are called P-8I, and have replaced the ageing Soviet/Russian Tupolev Tu-142s.

    Specifications and features

    • The P-8I can fly as high as 41,000 feet, and has a short transit time, which reduces the size of the Area of Probability when searching for submarines, surface vessels or search and rescue survivors.
    • The aircraft has two engines, and is about 40 metres long, with a wingspan of 37.64 metres.
    • Each aircraft weighs about 85,000 kg, and has a top speed of 490 knots, or 789 km/hour.
    • It requires a crew of nine, and has a range of 1,200+ nautical miles, with 4 hours on station, which means about 2,222 km.
    • According to Boeing, more than 140 P-8 aircraft have “executed more than 400,000 mishap-free flight-hours around the globe”.

     

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  • Species in news: Dugong

    India’s first Dugong conservation reserve will be built in Tamil Nadu for the conservation of Dugong, a marine mammal.

    Dugong Conservation Reserve

    • The reserve will spread over an area of 500 km in Palk Bay on the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu.
    • Palk Bay is a semi-enclosed shallow water body with a water depth maximum of 13 meters.
    • Located between India and Sri Lanka along the Tamil Nadu coast, the dugong is a flagship species in the region.

    Dugong: The sea cow

    • Dugong or the sea cow is the State animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
    • This endangered marine species survive on seagrass and other aquatic vegetation found in the area.
    • It is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine and is the only extant species in the family Dugongidae.
    • Dugongs are usually about three-meter long and weigh about 400 kg.
    • Dugongs have an expanded head and trunk-like upper lip.
    • Elephants are considered to be their closest relatives. However, unlike dolphins and other cetaceans, sea cows have two nostrils and no dorsal fin.

    Their habitat

    • Distributed in shallow tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific region, in India, they are found in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
    • Dugongs are long-living animals, that have a low reproductive rate, long generation time, and high investment in each offspring.
    • The female dugongs do not bear their first calf until they are at least 10 and up to 17 years old.
    • A dugong population is unlikely to increase more than 5% per year. They take a long time to recover due to the slow breeding rate.

    Causes of extinction

    • Having being declared vulnerable, the marine animal calls for conserving efforts.
    • Studies have suggested the reasons for the extinction of the animal such as slow breeding rate, fishing, and the loss of habitat.
    • They are also known to suffer due to accidental entanglement and drowning in gill-nets.

    Conservation in India

    • The conservation reserve can promote growth and save vulnerable species from the verge of extinction.
    • Dugongs are protected in India under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 which bans the killing and purchasing of dugong meat.
    • IUCN status: Vulnerable

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Q. With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
    2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
    3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1974.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 3 only

     

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”np1li6ujy1″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • Cyber warfare

    Alongside the missiles and bombs slamming down in Ukraine, the country has also been hit by a wave of cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure companies.

    What is Cyberwarfare?

    • Cyberwarfare has emerged as a new form of retaliation or passive aggression deployed by nations that do not want to go to actual war but want to send a tough message to their opponents.
    • In June 2020, security experts from Cyfirma uncovered a conspiracy by Gothic Panda and Stone Panda, two China-based hacker groups, to target media and critical infra companies in India.
    • They led large-scale attacks amid the border stand-off between India and China in Ladakh.
    • For many countries, cyberwarfare is a never-ending battle as it allows them to constantly harass and weaken geopolitical rivals.

    What has happened in Ukraine so far?

    • Ukraine  has  been  one  of  the  primary targets of Russia since 2020.
    • The recent spate of attacks started in mid-January and knocked out websites of the ministry of foreign affairs and the ministry of education.
    • Government websites and a number of banks have been hit by another mass distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
    • DDoS attacks disrupt online services by overwhelming websites with more traffic than their server can handle.

    Which countries are behind state-backed cyberattacks?

    • Russia is one of the top perpetrators of state-backed cyberattacks.
    • According to an October 2021 report by Microsoft Corp., Russia accounted for 58% of state-backed attacks worldwide, followed by North Korea (23%), Iran (11%), and China (8%).
    • North Korea is said to have built a cyber-army of 7,000 hackers.

    Which companies are targeted and why?

    • State-backed cyberattacks are usually carried out to steal state secrets, trade deals and weapons blueprint, or target large multinationals to steal their intellectual property (IP) and use it to build local industry.
    • Cryptos are also on the radar now. North Korean hackers reportedly stole cryptos worth $400 million in 2021.
    • However, when states launch cyberattacks on other states as a result of worsening of geopolitical relations, the target is usually critical infrastructure firms to disrupt economic activity.

    How often is India targeted?

    • Such cyberattacks rose 100% between 2017 and 2021, according to a global study by Hewlett-Packard and the University of Surrey.
    • In 2019, the administrative network of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was hit by a malware attack by North Korea-backed Lazarus Group.
    • China-backed hackers were believed to be behind a power outage in Mumbai in 2020.
    • According to Black Lotus Labs, Pakistan-based hackers targeted power firms and one government organization in India in early 2021 using Remote Access Trojans.

     

     

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  • Who was Narsinh Mehta?

    Recently Junagadh University discovered a new species of spider and named it Narsinhmehtai in honour of Narsinh Mehta, the 15th-century poet who was a devotee of Lord Krishna.

    Narsinh Mehta

    • Mehta is believed to have been born in Talaja in present-day Bhavnagar district in 1410 and died in Junagadh in 1480s.
    • The family had its origin in Vadnagar in north Gujarat, and the caste name is believed to be Pandya but as members of the family were officers in kingdoms of those days.
    • They were called Mehta (one who keeps books of accounts) which later on became the family name.
    • His father died when Mehta was just 5 and it is believed that Mehta learnt to speak only when he was eight years old, after a holy man asked him to utter the name of Lord Krishna.
    • His elder brother Bansidhar and Bansidhar’s wife raised Mehta and arranged his marriage.

    Miracles in his life

    • Mehta used to spend time in Krishna-bhakti (devotion to Lord Krishna) even after his marriage to Manekba, paying little attention to family duties.
    • Mehta is believed to have run away from home and done tapashcharya at a Shiva temple in Talaja for seven days.
    • After that, Mehta relocated with his family to Junagadh.
    • Nonetheless, folklore has it that Lord Krishna, by impersonating as Mehta, helped the devout poet organise shraadhha (a ritual performed post death of a family member) of his father, marriage of his son Shamaldas etc.
    • One of his bhajans narrates how Ra Mandlik, the then ruler of Junagadh had imprisoned him, accusing the poet of not having seen Lord Krishna and yet claiming to have done so.

    His poetry

    • Mehta penned more than 750 poems, called padd in Gujarat.
    • They mainly deal with devotion to Lord Krishna, gyan (wisdom) vairagya (detachment from worldly affairs).
    • Others like Shalmshano Vivah, Kunvarbainu Mameru, Hundi and Harmala are believed to be autobiographical accounts of different occasions in his life.
    • Vaishanavajn to tene kahiye, Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan is Mehta’s creation.

     

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  • NASA to decommission the International Space Station

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced plans to retire and decommission the International Space Station (ISS) by 2031.

    What is the ISS?

    • The ISS was launched in 1998 as part of joint efforts by the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe.
    • The idea of a space station originated in the 1984 State of the Union address by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
    • The space station was assembled over many years, and it operates in low-earth orbit.
    • Since its inception, it has served as a laboratory suspended in space and has aided multiple scientific and technological developments.
    • The ISS was originally built to operate for 15 years.

    Why was ISS launched?

    • A space station permits quantum leaps in research in science, communications, and in metals and lifesaving medicines which could be manufactured only in space.
    • ISS has consistently maintained human presence for the past 21 years, providing astronauts with sophisticated technologies for scientific research.

    Why is NASA planning to decommission the ISS?

    • The space station has already surpassed that checkpoint by being active for 21 years, with plans to continue operations till 2030.
    • The ISS goes through 16 rotations of the earth per day, causing extreme temperature changes on the exterior.
    • The side facing the sun can get heated up to 121°C while the temperature on the opposite, darker side can fall to –157°C, causing intense expansion and contraction of the building material.
    • This orbital thermal cycling, coupled with dynamic loading, affects the longevity of the primary structure of the space station.
    • The technical lifetime is also limited by parts like radiators, modules and truss structures that tend to degrade over time.

    What is the procedure to de-orbit the ISS?

    • NASA plans to remove the ISS from its orbit around the earth and eventually plunge it into the ocean at a point farthest from human civilisation.
    • The space agency will use the dual method of natural orbit decay and a re-entry manoeuvre to bring an end to the ISS as we know it.
    • According to the plan, the earth’s natural atmospheric drag will be used in lowering the altitude of the ISS while setting up the de-orbit.
    • The space station operators will then provide the final push to it to lower the structure to the maximum possible height and ensure safe re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere.
    • It would then lead to Point Nemo over the South Pacific Oceanic Uninhabited Area (SPOUA).
    • Dissembling process would have posed huge logistical and financial challenges.

    How big is it?

    • The ISS is a huge structure — almost the size of a football field — and it was not designed to be disassembled easily in space.
    • The station currently operates in low-earth orbit above 400 km in altitude, at a point where it still experiences atmospheric drag and requires re-boosts to continue in its orbit.
    • The station also has a mass of over 4,30,000 kg.
    • Existing propulsion systems do not have the capacity to raise the station’s altitude to a high target and escape low-earth orbit.
    • The random re-entry method was discarded since it carries a huge risk for the human population on the ground.

    What is the future of space stations?

    • As the ISS plans to end operations in space, new players are already lining up to replace it.
    • In January 2022, China announced that its space station will be ready for operations this year.
    • Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has also announced its plans to build Orbital Reef, a commercially developed, owned, and operated space station in low-earth orbit.
    • Blue Origin is working alongside Sierra Space on the project.

     

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