Amid concerns expressed by some countries, including the US, over the danger posed by debris caused by the anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile test conducted by India on March 27, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief G Satheesh Reddy said here on Saturday that there was no such threat as the debris was decaying.
He also said the entire debris will be dissolved within 45 days from the day the test was conducted.
His observations came days after National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) expressed concern over the possibility of spread of debris. The US termed as a “terrible thing” India’s shooting down of its own satellite saying the mission created about 400 pieces of debris.
Allaying such apprehensions, Reddy asserted that the first ten days after the test are crucial and Saturday was the last day of the countdown since India carried out the important operation named Mission Shakti.
The DRDO chief said Indian scientists decided to knock out the “enemy satellite” in a “hit to kill” mission in lower orbit at an altitude of 300 km to avoid any debris fall out and ensure safety of other space stations. He also said there was no need for another test as the demonstration hit had achieved all the mission parameters adding having deterrence is the best defence.
Elaborating on all the aspects of the A-SAT test during a media conference, he also said India now has the capability of hitting a satellite at a height of more than 1,000 kms. Reddy’s claim comes in the backdrop of China having the capability to destroy a missile at a range of nearly 800 kms as demonstrated in a test in space some years back.
Despite having the capability to hit a satellite at 1,000 km, India as a responsible nation committed to peaceful use of space, chose a much lower orbit at 300 km with the purpose of avoiding threat of debries to the global space assets. This ensured debris would decay in a matter of weeks, Reddy said adding even the US carries such tests at altitudes of 250 to 300 kms. He also said there was no threat to the International Space Station (ISS) as expressed by the NASA.
The Indian scientists conducted endless simulation exercises to avoid threat of debris, said Reddy, adding there could be a possibility of some debris going up but it did not pose any danger as indicated by the NASA reports in the last two days.
Explaining the precautions taken, he said the interceptor missile, which destroyed the “enemy” satellite launched by India in January this year, hit it from the side at 283 kms altitude in a straight angle instead of coming from below or at an angle. The straight line hit from the side ensured that debris did not spread upwards and the precision hit to kill was ten cms which the DRDO chief termed as an achievement for the Indian scientists.
Giving the background of the test, he said it was in 2014 that the Government asked the DRDO to start working on space programme and the final nod for the A-SAT test was given in 2016. More than 150 to 200 scientists including 40 to 50 women scientists worked tirelessly conducting simulation exercises and other related drills, said the DRDO chief, adding the entire effort was indigenous with more than 90 per cent components manufactured in the country. Nearly 50 companies manufactured 2,000 components including nozzles, avionics and other critical parts with the DRDO scientists keeping strict quality control checks.
Fielding a question about senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram saying announcing the A-SAT test exposed India’s defence capabilities thereby harming its interests, the DRDO chief said such tests cannot be hidden as satellites from all over the world monitor such programmes from various stations. Therefore, such missions cannot be kept a secret, Reddy said.
Taking exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the successful test, Chidambaram had said only a “foolish Government” would make such a disclosure and “betray” a defence secret. He also said in a tweet, “The capability to shoot down a satellite has existed for many years. A wise Government will keep the capability secret. Only a foolish Government will disclose it and betray a defence secret.”
Asked about the timing of the test, Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Pankaj Saran it was technologically and scientifically driven. Responding to another query whether US and other countries were informed in advance about the test, he said without answering directly that India’s space programme is in collaboration with several countries and interacts with them constantly as part of international outreach.
