Historic PSLV-37 Re-entry Marks New Era of Space Sustainability

The PSLV-37 rocket's upper stage recently re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, as predicted by ISRO. Launched in 2017 with Cartosat-2D and 103 co-passenger satellites, the mission was historic for deploying 104 satellites. After regular monitoring, ISRO ensured compliance with space debris guidelines, emphasizing sustainability in future missions.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the upper stage of the PSLV-37 rocket, responsible for launching a record 104 satellites in 2017, has re-entered the Earth's atmosphere as predicted.

The PSLV-C37 mission, launched on February 15, 2017, included the primary payload Cartosat-2D and made history by deploying 104 satellites in a single launch. The upper stage, PS4, was left in low-Earth orbit after the mission, and its descent was due to atmospheric drag.

ISRO's IS4OM monitored the orbital decay since 2024 and safely predicted the re-entry, compliant with international debris guidelines. ISRO strives for sustainable practices in space, aiming for reduced orbital lifetimes and controlled re-entry in future missions to support the Debris Free Space Mission by 2030.