India Shoots Down Satellite Ahead Of Elections, Becomes ‘Space Superpower’

India on Wednesday claimed that it became an elite space superpower after successfully testing an indigenously developed anti-satellite missile that shot down a live satellite, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an address to the nation at 12.25 pm, the Indian PM shared the news that India’s A-SAT shot down a live satellite on a low earth orbit and the whole operation took only three minutes.

The operation was christened ‘Mission Shakti.’

With this, PM Modi said, India has joined the elite global club where other members are the United States, Russia, and China. Politically too, it will be beneficial for Modi to project this as an achievement of his regime as India goes to polls in April-May to elect a new federal government.

For India, this is a great honor, Modi added.

The PM also congratulated India’s defense scientists and the organization DRDO for the unique achievement.

Modi said Operation Shakti was a show of “the remarkable dexterity of India’s outstanding scientists and the success of our space programme.”

At the same time, Modi added that India’s space mission is not aimed at any other country. The ‘Mission Shakti’ is all about strengthening India’s security, the PM said.

Modi also pointed out that India has a number of satellites to its credit that are contributing to the country’s strength in areas such as agriculture, communication, disaster management, weather, and navigation.

China urges peace in outer space

Meanwhile, China reacted guardedly to India's anti-satellite missile test and urged countries to maintain peace and tranquillity in the outer space.

In a written reply, China’s foreign ministry said: “We have noticed reports and hope that each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space.”

A similar test was conducted by China in January 2007 and it destroyed a defunct weather satellite.

Prime Minister Modi has already assured that India’s “Mission Shakti” anti-satellite missile is not against any country. He also pointed out that the destroyed satellite was a pre-determined target orbiting at an altitude of 300 km. No international law was breached by the testing of an anti-satellite missile, Modi added.

The satellite killer missile developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation is aimed at strengthening India's overall security, the Indian PM said in his broadcast to the country.