ISRO’s Dust Experiment (DEX) : Science and Tech : UPSC 2026

Indexed: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]ISRO's Dust Experiment or DEX has detected interplanetary dust particles near Earth.

[00:00:06]It detected these particles roughly every 1,000 seconds.

[00:00:10]This is important because space is not completely empty.

[00:00:14]It contains tiny dust particles.

[00:00:17]These particles mainly come from comets and asteroids.

[00:00:21]Scientists call them interplanetary dust particles or IDPs.

[00:00:26]They are microscopic fragments.

[00:00:28]When some of them enter Earth's atmosphere and burn, we see them as shooting stars.

[00:00:34]Now, understand DEX simply. It is India's first homemade instrument to detect and study high-speed dust particles in space.

[00:00:42]The Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad developed it. ISRO flew it on POEM during the PSLV C58 mission.

[00:00:51]POEM means PSLV Orbital Experimental Module.

[00:00:55]It uses the final stage of the PSLV rocket as a platform for experiments in orbit.

[00:01:01]DEX studies tiny high-speed impacts in space.

[00:01:05]This matters for satellites.

[00:01:07]Even a very small particle can hit a satellite at high speed.

[00:01:11]It can damage sensitive parts.

[00:01:14]So, studying space dust helps scientists understand the space environment better.

[00:01:19]It also helps in planning safer future missions.

[00:01:22]These missions may go to the Moon, Mars, Venus, or deeper space.

[00:01:27]So, remember this for UPSC.

[00:01:30]DEX is India's first indigenous cosmic dust detector.

[00:01:35]It studies interplanetary dust particles from comets and asteroids.

[00:01:39]It shows India's growing strength in space science, satellite safety, and planetary exploration. Subscribe to our channel Clarity UPSC and download our app for all science and tech current affairs 2026.