India’s first homegrown cosmic dust detector, called the Dust EXperiment (DEX), has revealed that tiny particles from space are constantly hitting instruments in orbit. These microscopic interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collide with satellites roughly every thousand seconds, showing just how active space around Earth really is.
DEX was launched on January 1, 2024, as part of ISRO’s PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission, using the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM). The small, lightweight device weighs only 3 kilograms and operated at an altitude of 350 kilometers above Earth.
The detector recorded high-speed impacts from debris originating from comets and asteroids. This material constantly skims Earth’s atmosphere, creating tiny but fast collisions that can affect spacecraft and satellites.
This experiment is significant because it helps scientists understand the space environment around our planet. By studying cosmic dust, researchers can learn more about the origins of the solar system, the movement of small space objects, and how to protect satellites from damage.