In which region of Uttarakhand will India's first ever Commercial Space Situational Awareness Observatory be set-up? 

The correct answer is Garhwal.

Key Points

• India's first-ever Commercial Space Situational Awareness Observatory is being set up in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
• This observatory will be instrumental in tracking objects in space and monitoring the activities of satellites and other space debris.
• The project is aimed at enhancing India's space situational awareness capabilities and ensuring the safety and sustainability of space operations.
• The observatory will be operated by Digantara Research and Technologies, a Bengaluru-based space sector startup.

Additional Information

• Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
  • SSA involves the detection, tracking, and identification of artificial objects in orbit around the Earth.
  • It is crucial for avoiding collisions and managing space traffic.
• Digantara Research and Technologies
  • A Bengaluru-based startup focused on developing technologies for space surveillance and tracking.
  • The company is working on creating a network of sensors to monitor space activities in real-time.
• Importance of Space Observatories
  • They provide critical data for space weather forecasting and monitoring of space debris.
  • They help in ensuring the long-term sustainability of space activities by preventing collisions.
• Space Debris
  • Also known as space junk, it includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other fragments from previous space missions.
  • Space debris poses a significant risk to operational satellites and space missions.