India’s Mission Shakti has been successfully tested with India’s anti-satellite (ASAT) missile that leveled a pre-decided target of an inoperative satellite in low earth orbit, situated at 300 kilometers altitude.
The Indian ASAT missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) took 3 minutes to achieve the intercept.
This accomplishment has made India the fourth country in the world, after China, Russia, and the US, which can target and destroy low-earth-orbit satellites.
In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today. India has successfully tested the Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile. Congratulations to everyone on the success of #MissionShakti – PM Narendra Modi
An ASAT missile is a component of space warfare which is capable of destroying adversary satellites in low earth orbit (within 2000 kilometers altitude), and a nation destroying their own satellites using an ASAT missile is usually a military show of force.
#MissionShakti was a highly complex one, conducted at extremely high speed with remarkable precision. It shows the remarkable dexterity of India’s outstanding scientists and the success of our space programme
Modi, who gave a televised address to the country on the very same day, emphasized the role of this success in underlining the national security of the country, mainly in the face of the national security threat posed by neighboring adversaries Pakistan and China.
Some consider this move as Modi’s way of garnering support and votes for himself and his political party in the upcoming 2019 general elections. According to Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst and the writer of Modi’s biography ‘Narendra Modi: The Man, the Times, this move is an attempt to boost nationalist passion and fervor.
“This address is an indication that Mr. Modi possibly is not very sure of the election campaign going completely his way… It’s an attempt to bolster nationalist fervor by another means.”
