Mission Shakti And The Controversies

March 27, 2019 has marked itself in Indian history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a big announcement. India has been reaching for the stars since the 1970s. India has designed anti satellite missile to neutralize satellites, mastering the anti-satellite (ASAT) missile technology. However we have made it quite clear that the intent of DRDO's "Mission Shakti" is to defend India’s space assets. Within 3 mins, india destroyed a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite 300 km away through ASAT.

Low earth orbit refers to an altitude up to 2,000 km. A satellite in the LEO can monitor activities on the ground and water surfaces. Such a satellite can pose serious threat to the country’s security in the instances of war.

The scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), named this project as the “Mission Shakti”. The missile can completely destroy the satellite in the LEO range.

• It is a 3 stage BMD ( Ballistic Missile Defence Programme) interceptor missile.

1. The radar identifies the target and tracks the satellite movement.

2. Missile is launched travelling at high speed.

3. The ground radars guide the missile, the missile identifies the targeted satellite. It hits the target and neutralize it successfully.

• The ASAT missile is a crucial technology for the nation. India has became the 4th nation to master this technology. The countries that have been using this technology are: the United States, Russia & China. For many decades india was kept away from space technologies. Thus we developed our own space & nuclear capabilities. It is a great achievement as ASAT technology is indigenously developed.

• The use of ASAT is seen as a milestone just like India’s 1998 nuclear tests. Since there are no treaties governing the use of ASAT, India is not in violation of any international conventions.

• The anti-satellite space technology shows India’s focus on security challenges, emanating beyond Pakistan. Having developed its own vehicles for commercial satellite launches, today India is launching satellites of other countries. Thus we can exploit the technology for commercial use.

However since Prime Minister narendra Modi announced the project 2 weeks before the national elections, the opposition parties has raised questions about it. The opposition parties are claiming the Prime Minister was trying to gain political points two weeks before the national elections, and that it was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The election officials have sought a transcript of the Prime Minister's speech and a panel has been formed to examine it. Deputy EC Sandeep Saxena is the head of committee examining the whole issue. This commitee will submit its repert in 2 days deciding whether this was a violation of Model Code of Conduct. The Model Code is a series of dos and don'ts for the caretaker government and political parties, which comes into effect as soon as the elections are announced. Election commision is suppose to be announcing its decision on this friday that is March 29, 2019.