New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a big announcement said that India has entered its name as an elite space power with an anti-satellite weapon A-SAT which successfully targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit.
“Today is 27th March. A while ago, India achieved a historic feat. India today registered itself as a space power. Till now, 3 countries of the world- America, Russia, & China had this achievement. India is the 4th country to have achieved this feat,” PM Modi said.
“India has entered its name as an elite space power. An anti-satellite weapon A-SAT successfully targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit,” PM Modi said.
“A-SAT missile will give new strength to India’s space prog. I assure the international community that our capability won’t be used against anyone but is purely India’s defence initiative for its security. We’re against arms raised in space. This test won’t breach any int’l law or treaties,” PM Modi added.
Here’s what A-SAT do:
1. A-SAT weapons are designed to destroy satellites during warfare or for military purposes. Though, A-SAT weapons have not been used so far during a war and have been only demonstrated to show force or power.
2. Mission Shakti’s success propels India into the elite league of space superpowers. The US, China and Russia had successfully launched ASATs and destroyed their satellites.
3. In February 2010, Dr VK Saraswat, Former Director-General and Scientific Advisor of DRDO had said India has all the “building blocks necessary” to integrate an anti-satellite weapon to neutralise hostile satellites in low earth and polar orbits.