The PSLV-37 upper stage successfully made a safe re-entry into Earth's atmosphere after 8 years. Science and Technology | Dated: 15 Oct 2024 The successful re-entry of the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) upper stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-37 (PSLV C-37) into Earth's atmosphere occurred on October 6, 2024. 🎯 Key Highlights: - This achievement represents a significant milestone in ISRO's efforts to achieve a Debris Free Space Mission (DFSM) by 2030 through ongoing proactive measures. - Space debris includes defunct human-made objects in Earth's orbit, such as non-functional satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments resulting from satellite collisions. 💡 Other Important Facts: (i) The orbital altitude of the PSLV upper stage had decayed to 134x148 km, and re-entry occurred over the North Atlantic Ocean. (ii) This re-entry within eight years aligns with the international debris mitigation guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), which limit the post-mission lifespan of defunct objects in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) to 25 years. (iii) ISRO is actively working to reduce the residual orbital lifetime of PSLV upper stages to 5 years or less through controlled de-orbiting techniques. 📚 Test Your Knowledge: After how many years did the PSLV-37 upper stage recently make a safe re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere? Correct Answer: 8 years 🚀 Quick Recap: