In a special address to the nation PM Modi announced that India has destroyed a low orbiting satellite during a missile test in 3 minutes. An anti-satellite weapon A - SAT was used to target a defunct live satellite in a low earth orbit (LEO) that was orbiting at 300 km. This entire operation is termed as Mission Shakti and was led by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He said that India is the fourth country in the world to have done so after America, Russia and China. This event has put India in the 'super league' of space. He also assured the nation that this test does not violate any international laws and will not be used for anything other than strengthening our defence backbone. He added that this operation was not against any country and we are against arms raised in space. PM Modi has credited Indian scientists for carrying out such a complex operation.
In his address he also mentioned that India today has enough satellites that are contributing towards communication, entertainment, weather, disaster management, agriculture, navigation etc. What is special about Mission Shakti is that is is completely indigenous to India and developed by the DRDO and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
This mission was carried out at 11.16 am today from Balasore in Odisha, DRDO's testing range. An Indian satellite was targeted and dismantled safely.
What is an ASAT (anti-satellite weapon) ?
ASAT's are weapons that are designed to destroy or disable satellites with a strategic importance. Most satellites orbit 2,000 km above earth's surface in low earth orbit (LEO). Several nations possess ASAT systems or are under development. What is noteworthy is that no country has used ASAT weapons for warfare uptil now. Although, they have shot down their own defunct satellites. India is only the 4th country in the world to have done so.
This technology gives a nation the power to bring down an enemy's missile. It also enables a nation to immobilise infrastructure of the other country, making their weapons useless.
The US tested ASAT in 1958, USSR in 1964, China in 2007 and now India in 2019.
DRDO's chairman G Satheesh Reddy told ANI that "We have mastered anti-satellite capability and we have today shown that we can hit satellites at long ranges with a few centimeters accuracy,"
Acquision of ASAT technology will also have spin offs for India. The acquired technology can be used for international and domestic commercial uses.
This is indeed a proud moment for all Indian's and a major milestone for the country.
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