On Wednesday the space Mission Shakti was carried out by India, in which it successfully targeted a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite (Report, 28 March). Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared: “In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today … India has successfully tested the anti-satellite missile (Asat).”
He added that the target satellite was at an altitude of 300km, and that India had not breached any international laws or treaties.
It is a sad day when the intelligent leader of a civilised nation confuses shame for pride. Contrary to Mr Modi’s belief that the act makes India an elite space superpower, it in fact places it firmly among those behaving irresponsibly in space. There are international efforts to regulate the incidental creation of space debris and to promote responsible behaviour in space – removing spent satellites from orbit among them. This, however, does not mean that the placement of debris in Earth’s orbit, let alone its intentional creation, is currently legal.
Under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, to which India is party, any activity in space must avoid its harmful contamination, and be conducted with due regard to the corresponding interests of all other states. Considering that the International Space Station orbits at about 350km, and many Earth observation, climate, communication and other satellites operate in LEO, the debris created by this Asat can potentially have a devastating effect on the use of the orbits.
China’s similar Asat test in January 2007 brought international condemnation. This act by India is no less to be condemned.
Professor Sa’id Mosteshar
Director, London Institute of Space Policy and Law
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