Government’s 10-Point FAQ on Mission Shakti
New Delhi, Mar 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that India had joined the elite club of space powers by shooting down a low earth orbit satellite with an anti-satellite missile or A-SAT. India is the fourth country to have tested such an anti-satellite weapon after the US, Russia and China, the PM said, addressing the nation on the success of what he called "Mission Shakti".
Soon after the prime minister's address, the Ministry of External Affairs put out a list of frequently asked questions on Mission Shakti, India's Anti-Satellite Missile test conducted today.
Here is the list of FAQs put out by foreign mission on Mission Shakti:
1.
What
was
the
test?
On
March
27,
2019
India
conducted
Mission
Shakti,
an
anti-satellite
missile
test,
from
the
Dr.
A
P
J
Abdul
Kalam
Island
launch
complex.This
was
a
technological
mission
carried
out
by
DRDO.
The
satellite
used
in
the
mission
was
one
of
India's
existing
satellites
operating
in
lower
orbit.
The
test
was
fully
successful
and
achieved
all
parameters
as
per
plans.
The
test
required
an
extremely
high
degree
of
precision
and
technical
capability.
Also
Read
|
In
3
minutes,
A-SAT
missile
targeted
micro
satellite
launched
by
ISRO
on
Jan
24
The
significance
of
the
test
is
that
India
has
tested
and
successfully
demonstrated
its
capability
to
interdict
and
intercept
a
satellite
in
outer
space
based
on
complete
indigenous
technology.
With this test, India joins an exclusive group of space faring nations consisting of USA, Russia and China.
2.
Which
satellite
was
used?
The
satellite
used
was
an
Indian
satellite.
3.
Which
Missile/Interceptor
was
used?
The
DRDO's
Ballistic
Missile
Defence
interceptor
was
used,
which
is
part
of
the
ongoing
ballistic
missile
defence
programme.
4.
There
are
other
ways
to
demonstrate
ASAT
capabilities
such
as
"fly-by
tests"
and
Jamming.
Why
has
India
used
the
particular
technology
of
Kinetic
Kill?
This
is
a
technology
where
we
have
developed
capability.
Space
technologies
are
constantly
evolving.
We
have
used
the
technology
that
is
appropriate
to
achieve
the
objectives
set
out
in
this
mission.
5.
Does
the
test
create
space
debris?
The
test
was
done
in
the
lower
atmosphere
to
ensure
that
there
is
no
space
debris.
Whatever
debris
that
is
generated
will
decay
and
fall
back
onto
the
earth
within
weeks.
6.
Why
did
we
do
the
test?
India
has
a
long
standing
and
rapidly
growing
space
programme.
It
has
expanded
rapidly
in
the
last
five
years.
The
Mangalyaan
Mission
to
Mars
was
successfully
launched.
Thereafter,
the
government
has
sanctioned
the
Gaganyaan
Mission
which
will
take
Indians
to
outer
space.
India has undertaken 102 spacecraft missions consisting of communication satellites, earth observation satellites, experimental satellites, navigation satellites, apart from satellites meant for scientific research and exploration, academic studies and other small satellites. India's space programme is a critical backbone of India's security, economic and social infrastructure.
The test was done to verify that India has the capability to safeguard our space assets. It is the Government of India's responsibility to defend the country's interests in outer space.
7
Why
was
the
test
done
now?
The
tests
were
done
after
we
had
acquired
the
required
degree
of
confidence
to
ensure
its
success,
and
reflects
the
intention
of
the
government
to
enhance
India's
national
security.
India
has
seen
an
accelerated
space
development
programme
since
2014.
What is Anti-satellite (ASAT) Missile?
8
Is
India
entering
into
an
arms
race
in
outer
space?
India
has
no
intention
of
entering
into
an
arms
race
in
outer
space.
We
have
always
maintained
that
space
must
be
used
only
for
peaceful
purposes.
We
are
against
the
weaponization
of
Outer
Space
and
support
international
efforts
to
reinforce
the
safety
and
security
of
space
based
assets.
India believes that Outer space is the common heritage of humankind and it is the responsibility of all space-faring nations to preserve and promote the benefits flowing from advances made in space technology and its applications for all.
India is a party to all the major international treaties relating to Outer Space. India already implements a number of Transparency and Confidence Building Measures(TCBMs) - including registering space objects with the UN register, prelaunch notifications, measures in harmony with the UN Space Mitigation Guidelines, participation in Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination (IADC) activities with regard to space debris management, undertaking SOPA (Space Object Proximity Awareness and COLA (Collision Avoidance) Analysis and numerous international cooperation activities, including hosting the UN affiliated Centre for Space and Science Technology Education in Asia and Pacific. India has been participating in all sessions of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
India supported UNGA resolution 69/32 on No First Placement of Weapons on Outer Space. We see the No First Placement of weapons in outer space as only an interim step and not a substitute for concluding substantive legal measures to ensure the prevention of an arms race in outer space, which should continue to be a priority for the international community.
India supports the substantive consideration of the issue of Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) in the Conference on Disarmament where it has been on the agenda since 1982.
9
What
is
the
international
law
on
weapons
in
outer
space?
The
principal
international
Treaty
on
space
is
the
1967
Outer
Space
Treaty.
India
is
a
signatory
to
this
treaty,
and
ratified
it
in
1982.
The
Outer
Space
Treaty
prohibits
only
weapons
of
mass
destruction
in
outer
space,
not
ordinary
weapons.
India expects to play a role in the future in the drafting of international law on prevention of an arms race in outer space including inter alia on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space in its capacity as a major space faring nation with proven space technology.
India is not in violation of any international law or Treaty to which it is a Party or any national obligation.
10
Is
the
test
directed
against
any
country?
The
test
is
not
directed
against
any
country.
India's
space
capabilities
do
not
threaten
any
country
and
nor
are
they
directed
against
anyone.
At the same time, the government is committed to ensuring the country's national security interests and is alert to threats from emerging technologies. The capability achieved through the Anti-Satellite missile test provides credible deterrence against threats to our growing space-based assets from long range missiles, and proliferation in the types and numbers of missiles.