🔆 Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) 📍 What is SBS? ✅ Aim: Strengthen land and maritime awareness for civilian and military purposes. ✅ Applications: Earth and outer space monitoring, environmental, disaster, scientific research, traffic control. 📍 Evolution of India’s SBS Program ✅ SBS-1 (2001): Focused on basic surveillance (Cartosat-2A, Cartosat-2B). ✅ SBS-2 (2013): Enhanced capabilities (Cartosat-2C, RISAT-2). ✅ SBS-3 (2024): 52 satellites for real-time multi-domain surveillance; focuses on maritime monitoring. Linked with Predator drones. 📍 Challenges ✅ Dual-use Tech: Civilian vs. military ambiguity. ✅ Militarisation of Space: Risk of arms race. ✅ Privacy Risks: High-res satellites may intrude privacy. ✅ Legal Gaps: Outdated treaties. ✅ Diplomatic Tensions: Unauthorized surveillance. 📍 Applications & Global Developments ✅ National Defence: Monitors launches, borders, troop movements. ✅ Space Traffic: Prevents satellite collisions. ✅ Disaster Management: Floods, wildfires, ocean health. ✅ Scientific Observation: Long-term mapping and resource monitoring. #gs3 #science_and_technology