Mission Shakti: US expresses concern over A-SAT test space debris 

An artist’s impression of debris left by rockets and satellites in Earth’s orbit.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, announced that India successfully shot down one of its satellites in space with an anti-satellite missile (A-SAT) to test this capability. The successful test-firing of the A-SAT missile makes India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to obtain the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites.

Taking a note of the same the US has said that it will continue to pursue its shared interests with New Delhi in space and technical cooperation, but expressed its concern over the issue of space debris.

A US state department official told PTI that the state department saw Modi’s statement that announced India’s A-SAT test and while emphasizing on the “strong strategic partnership” between India and the US, the spokesperson reportedly said, “The issue of space debris is an important concern for the US government. We took note of Indian government statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues.”

Later, India’s foreign ministry explained that the anti-satellite missile test was carried out to verify India’s capability to safeguard space assets and that it was not directed against any country. On the issue of space debris, it said the A-SAT test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure there is no space debris. It said, “Whatever debris that is generated will decay and fall back onto the earth within weeks.”

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