The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Tuesday that the upper stage of the PSLV-37 rocket, PS4, successfully re-entered Earth’s atmosphere as predicted. This rocket had launched a record 104 satellites in 2017.
ISRO launched PSLV-C37 on February 15, 2017, carrying Cartosat-2D and 103 other satellites. After deploying the satellites, the rocket’s upper stage (PS4) remained in orbit at an altitude of approximately 470 x 494 km. ISRO continuously monitored the PS4, and its altitude gradually decreased.
Since September 2024, ISRO tracked the reduction in PS4’s orbital height, and on October 6, the rocket stage re-entered the atmosphere. This re-entry, occurring within eight years of the launch, complies with the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC).
According to the IADC guidelines, inactive objects should remain in low Earth orbit (LEO) for no more than 25 years after a mission. ISRO continues its efforts to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030.