Modi takes poll battle to space
India shoots down own satellite with missile Opposition cries foul, calls it a code violation
NEW DELHI — India said on Wednesday it destroyed a low-orbiting satellite in a missile test that proved the nation was among the world’s most advanced space powers.
In a rare address to the nation just weeks out from a national election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had joined the United States, Russia and China in accomplishing the feat.
A missile fired from a testing facility in Odisha, eastern India, downed the satellite at around 300km in “a difficult operation” that lasted around three minutes, Modi said.
“This is a proud moment for India,” the prime minister added, in his first televised national address since late 2016. “India has registered its name in the list of space superpowers. Until now, only three countries had achieved this feat.”
Modi said the anti-satellite missile test was peaceful, and not designed to create “an atmosphere of war”.
The announcement comes ahead of a national election in which Modi — whose Hindu nationalist party stormed to power in 2014 — is seeking a second term in office.
Under election laws in force, the government is forbidden from announcing new policies or other major developments that could benefit the ruling party.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated India’s scientists on the feat but also wished Modi “a very happy World Theatre Day” — referring to celebrations also marked around the globe on March 27.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury accused the prime minister of violating the model code of conduct by announcing a scientific achievement in space amid an election campaign.
In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride. One such moment is today Prime Minister Narendra Modi @narendramodi
Well done [scientists], extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day Oppn leader Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi
new delhi — India shot down one of its satellites in space with an anti-satellite missile on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, hailing the country’s first test of such technology as a major breakthrough that establishes it as a space power.
India would only be the fourth country to have used such an anti-satellite weapon after the United States, Russia and China, said Modi, who heads into general elections next month.
“Our scientists shot down a live satellite 300km away in space, in low-earth orbit,” Modi said in a television broadcast. “India has made an unprecedented achievement today,” he added, speaking in Hindi. “India registered its name as a space power.”
Anti-satellite weapons allow for attacks on enemy satellites, blinding them or disrupting communications, as well as providing a technology base to intercept ballistic missiles. Such capabilities have raised fears of the weaponisation of space and setting off a race between rivals.
After the news, China’s foreign ministry said it hoped all countries “can earnestly protect lasting peace and tranquility in space”. The United States and Russia both declined to make any immediate comment.
In a statement, India’s neighbour Pakistan said space is the “common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarization of this arena.”
Tension flared last month between the nuclear-armed foes after a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
India has had a space programme for years, making earth imaging satellites and launch capabilities as a cheaper alternative to Western programmes. It successfully sent a low-cost probe to Mars in 2014 and plans its first manned space mission by 2022.
The latest test, conducted from an island off its east coast, was aimed at protecting India’s assets in space against foreign attacks, the government said.
“The capability achieved... provides credible deterrence against threats to our growing space-based assets from longrange missiles, and proliferation in the types and numbers of missiles,” the foreign ministry said.
The three-minute test in the lower atmosphere ensured there was no debris in space and the remnants would “decay and fall back on to the earth within weeks”, the ministry added.
Brahma Chellaney, a security expert at New Delhi’s Centre of Policy Research, said the United States, Russia and China were pursuing anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. “Space is being turned into a battlefront, making counter-space capabilities critical. In this light, India’s successful ‘kill’ with an ASAT weapon is significant.”