A Giant Leap Into The Space

27^th March 2019, Wednesday, was not like any other normal day. Our much loved and respected prime minister, Shri Narendra Modi, managed to give us a jolt, yet again. A tweet came from the personal twitter account of the prime minister of India, informing the people about an untimely address by him. His tweet of addressing the nation in a short while, left people dumbstruck, with everyone anticipating another demonetization like move. That one tweet made people wary of the next few hours, and glued everyone, across the country, to their TV sets for the next couple of hours. And, soon, PM Narendra Modi appeared on the TV channels, and allayed the fears of the people. To everyone’s surprise, PM announced India to have become a space superpower, by performing operation Mission Shakti, only after USA, Russia and China.

This time, the address didn’t make us miserable; rather it abounded us with joy. India had become a space power. Our people, indulged in some sorts of merry-making, shared numerous messages on social media to let others know about this commendable feat.

India featured in the coveted league of only four nations, after it successfully downed a satellite, Microsat R, an imaging satellite, in the Lower Earth Orbit. The satellite was launched in January 2019, and it was hovering at 300 Km over the earth’s surface. Lower Earth Orbit typically ranges upto 2000 Km from the surface of the earth.

The missile developed by DRDO, as part of the Ballistic Missile Defense Programme, planned to the last detail, could have been tested way back in 2014 itself, but the previous government feared facing a severe backlash following the test, which China had gone through after it tested the same in 2007.But, PM Narendra Modi, after assuming power in 2014, rejuvenated the project, after DRDO scientists urged NSA Ajit Doval for a reconsideration of the A-SAT project. Satellites are today's lifelines, and the ability to shoot down one, gives India an edge during unforeseen circumstances.

It is commendable that India achieved this great technological feat in just one attempt, unlike the rest of the three countries. People from plethora of backgrounds congratulated our scientists, and also felt immense proud in doing so.

In doing the test, India, didn’t violate any international treaty to which it is a bounding member or a signatory. Although, there is a treaty, signed in 1967, and ratified in 1985, between the then superpowers of the world: US and Soviet Union, which stated for not using weapons of mass destruction in space. But, India has used conventional interceptor missile to perform the test. With this, India has made it very clear that, the test is not directed against any nation, but, at the same time, India has every right to protect and safeguard its defense and strategic interests in every capacity. India’s growing technological capabilities do not pose any threat to anyone.