Post mission disposal of Megha-Tropiques-1 through controlled atmospheric Re-entry to be published in: The journal of space safety engineering

Abstract

Controlled Re-Entry Experiment of Megha-Tropiques 1 (CREEM), an immensely challenging and significant exercise, was successfully executed on 7 March 2023 by Indian Space Research organization (ISRO) as part of its ongoing efforts to improve compliance with internationally accepted space debris mitigation guidelines. In this paper, we present the overall strategy of CREEM which was primarily shaped by the stringent requirements of targeted impact within a pre-designated zone and ensuring visibility during the final de-boosting burns. We specifically address how the strategy was driven by the on-board and operational constraints, the rationale for the selection of the target region, the de-orbiting maneuver performance details, and the operational workarounds to ensure required subsystem performance. The external coordination related aspects and the lessons learnt are also presented.