Modi declares India 'space superpower' as satellite downed by missile - Phys.org
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Modi declares India 'space superpower' as
satellite downed by missile
27 March 2019, by Jalees Andrabi
jets engaged in a dogfight over the disputed border
in Kashmir—a serious military escalation between
the nuclear-armed rivals.
Modi said the anti-satellite missile (ASAT) test was
peaceful, and not designed to create "an
atmosphere of war".
"I want to assure the world community that the new
capability is not against anyone. This is to secure
and defend... fast-growing India."
But analysts said it would not go unnoticed in China
and Pakistan, India's chief rivals in the nuclear-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India destroyed a low- armed region, and could be interpreted as a show
orbiting satellite in a missile test that makes the country of New Delhi's advancing military capabilities.
a space 'superpower'
"This is less about shooting down satellites and
more about proving high-altitude 'hit-to-kill'
proficiency, which is the core competency required
India said it had destroyed a low-orbiting satellite in to get good at a range of things—including defence
a missile test that proved the nation was among against nuclear-capable ballistic missiles," Ankit
the world's most advanced space powers. Panda, of the Federation of American Scientists,
told AFP.
In a rare address to the nation on Wednesday, just
weeks before a national election, Prime Minister "This is how the message is going to be perceived
Narendra Modi said India had joined the United in Islamabad."
States, Russia and China in accomplishing the
feat. A spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry said
countries that had "strongly condemned" the
A missile fired from a testing facility in Odisha, demonstration of similar technologies in the past
eastern India, downed the satellite at an altitude of should work towards preventing the militarisation of
around 300 kilometres (185 miles) in "a difficult space.
operation" that lasted around three minutes, Modi
said. "Boasting of such capabilities is reminiscent of Don
Quixote's tilting against windmills," the spokesman
"This is a proud moment for India," Modi added, in said.
his first televised national address since late 2016.
Star wars
"India has registered its name in the list of space
superpowers. Until now, only three countries had The United States and the former Soviet Union
achieved this feat." carried out their first successful anti-satellite missile
tests in 1985, and China in 2007.
It comes a month after Indian and Pakistani fighter
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All are now said to be working on so-called Star "Some people like to test anti-satellite capabilities
Wars laser weapons to destroy satellites. intentionally, and create orbital debris fields that we
today are still dealing with," NASA chief Jim
With satellites increasingly important because of Bridenstine told Congress Wednesday.
their intelligence gathering role—and major nations
seeking to gain a foothold in space—the United "And those same countries come to us for space
States in 2014 rejected a Russian-Chinese situational awareness, because of the debris field
proposal for a treaty to ban weapons in space, that they themselves created."
saying it was "fundamentally flawed" because of
the lack of weapons verification measures. Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan said not
having rules was "worrisome".
"We all live in space. Let's not make it a mess,"
Shanahan said.
"Space should be a place where we can conduct
business, space should be a place where people
have freedom to operate. We cannot make it
unstable, we cannot create a debris problem that
ASAT tests create."
Elections
The test comes ahead of a national election starting
April 11 in which Modi—whose Hindu nationalist
party stormed to power in 2014—is seeking a
India's downing of a satellite was broadcast live across second term in office.
the country
Under election laws, the government is forbidden
from announcing new policies or other major
developments that could benefit the ruling party.
India's foreign ministry said the country "has no
intention of entering into an arms race in outer "The timing and the manner of the announcement,
space". with elections around the corner, will certainly lead
to speculation," Dhruva Jaishankar, Delhi-based
"We have always maintained that space must be fellow in foreign policy with Brookings India, told
used only for peaceful purposes," the ministry said. AFP.
"At the same time, the government is committed to Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated
ensuring the country's national security interests India's scientists on the feat but also wished Modi
and is alert to threats from emerging technologies." "a very happy World Theatre Day"—referring to
celebrations also marked around the globe on
Modi said the test did not violate any international March 27.
treaties and was for the betterment and safety of
India's 1.3 billion people. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley defended the
announcement, saying for "a deterrent of this kind
But NASA and the Pentagon warned that ASAT there is no better than the prime minister to inform
tests create potentially dangerous debris fields in the world".
Earth's orbit.
India has made giant strides in its space journey in
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recent years. It launched a record 104 satellites in a
single mission in 2017, and has also built a
reputation for low-cost space exploration and
science missions.
© 2019 AFP
APA citation: Modi declares India 'space superpower' as satellite downed by missile (2019, March 27)
retrieved 10 May 2020 from https://phys.org/news/2019-03-india-satellite-space-superpowers-modi.html
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