First commercial space observatory in Uttarakhand

Context

India’s first commercial space observatory will be set up in the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. 

• Digantara, a startup started in the field of space, will build this laboratory.

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Key-Points

• This observatory will monitor the 10 cm size of microscopic particles moving in the space around the Earth. 
• This space situational awareness observatory will help in monitoring space waste and military satellites hovering in space around the Earth.
• With these data, it will be able to reduce the risk of collisions between satellites and other spacecraft by more accurately predicting their location, speed and trajectory.
• This observatory will also give India indigenous capability to monitor space activity on the subcontinent. 
• For example, if Chinese satellites are observed over a particular area of ??India for a long period of time, it is an advantage for India to have indigenous capability without relying on countries like the US to monitor these activities.
• So far, only America is ahead in keeping such surveillance. In many places in the world, such observatories are being operated only by commercial companies of America.

About Digantara

• Its full name is Digantara Research and Technology Private Limited. 
• It was launched in December 2018.
• The main focus of the startup is to track the waste being collected due to satellites in space and find solutions. 
• It’s headquarter are in Jalandhar, Punjab.