INDIA’s ASAT TEST – INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
On 27 March, 2019, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, announced that India has successfully carried out an anti-satellite (ASAT) test, shortly before the announcement. Dubbed as Mission Shakti, the ASAT test has destroyed a pre-determined target satellite in the low earth orbit at 300 kilometers. According to the Honourable Prime Minister, this was an important step for protecting India’s space assets on which the country and its citizens are heavily reliant. Without commenting on the scientific prowess the test shows, the burning question here is the impact this ASAT test would have for the space environment. Does this ASAT test no jeopardize the very space assets it seeks to protect? A similar ASAT test was carried out by China in 2007, which was criticized by the international community for the utter disregard for the space environment. That single incident created 3,400 trackable space objects, also called space debris. Incidentally, the Chinese ASAT test an