India’s recent development in the space sector has been a sensational hit, becoming only the fourth nation in the world after the likes of US, Russia, China to take down enemy satellites. This is indeed a rare achievement which puts India in a special club of space superpowers.
Meanwhile, the acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan was not pleased after learning the results of India’s anti-satellite test, saying ‘not to make a mess in space’ because debris can be left behind. “My message would be: We all live in space, let’s not make it a mess. Space should be a place where we can conduct business.”
He added that the United States was still studying the Indian anti-satellite test. “You cannot make (space) unstable. We cannot create the debris problem that ASAT tests create. So, thoughtfulness goes a long way.”
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However, India’s foreign ministry said that there no such risk of debris, citing the test was in low-earth orbit and added that remains would “decay and fall back on to the earth within weeks.”
For your information, the United States ran the first anti-satellite test in 1959. “I think not having rules of engagement is worrisome. So, how people test and develop technologies is important,” Shanahan said, adding: “I would expect anyone who tests does not put at risk anyone else’s assets.”
