Let’s understand what are Anti-Satellite weapons? How many countries already have it? Is India the first Country to have ASAT? Obviously, you must be thinking what the impacts and drawbacks are are coming with this new TOY which India tested.
Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) with the name first thing strikes in mind is, this is some Space weapon designed to deceive the satellite orbiting around in the space. Yeah, you got it right!! Like nearly right. ASAT weapons are designed to incapacitate or destroy satellites for strategic military purposes.
There are now 4 nations (including India) possess operational ASAT systems. Although no ASAT system has yet been utilized in warfare yet, a few nations have shot down their own (defunct) satellites to demonstrate their ASAT capabilities in a show of force. The United States,
Russia, China, and India have demonstrated this capability successfully. Yeahhhh!!! Another reason we have got to celebrate and appreciate our Defense System. Now comes the Question.. what is #missionShakti? Mission Shakti is the name given to the Space mission which India conducted to test successfully its Anti-Satellite Weapon, by shooting down a Low Earth Orbit Satellite. This test was happened on 27 th March 2019 and was successful within 3 minutes of its initiation. It took India 9 yrs to develop and launch its own Anti-Satellite weapon. ASAT is developed by Scientists at DRDO, the research wing for Indian Defence Services. Learning about the impacts that ASAT weapon is going to do, here the highlights. ASAT’s can easily target any communication, navigational and other respective satellites
of the targeted nation in a warzone, which leads to destroying nations communication and navigational operations. The radiations caused by massive destructive activities in Space impacts the existence of life forms on Earth as well. Fragments of the destroyed satellites are created which will be orbiting around in the Space without proper disposal, which can create a threat for the functioning of the existing
Satellites in the Space India have signed The Outer Space Treaty, considering the severe impact of employing Anti-
Satellite Weapon.
“Mission Shakti 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,” the Narendra Modi said.
