Subject Preference: GS III (Space Technology)
- The News: A debris strike on China's Shenzhou-20 return capsule cracked its window, highlighting the increasing risk of space junk.
- Basics: MMOD includes naturally occurring dust (micrometeoroids) and man-made "space junk" (orbital debris) like old satellite parts.
- Scientific & Space Safety Context:
- Kessler Syndrome: The fear that a collision in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) could trigger a chain reaction of more debris, eventually making space travel impossible.
- Shielding: Spacecraft use Whipple Shields (multi-layered barriers) to break up debris before it hits the main hull.
- Indian Initiative: ISRO’s Project NETRA and IS4OM are India’s primary systems for Space Situational Awareness to protect our assets like Mangalyaan and Gaganyaan.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
