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India’s ASAT test reflects space race

1st April 2019 - 02:00 GMT | by Gordon Arthur, Neelam Mathews in Delhi and Hong Kong

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India’s Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test carried out on 27 March by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), makes it the fourth nation after the US, Russia and China to destroy an orbiting satellite.

The satellite hit was an Indian Microsat-R satellite in lower orbit, at an altitude of 282km.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the test’s significance was to demonstrate India’s capability based on indigenous technology. ‘We are using space and satellites for agriculture, defence, disaster management, communication, entertainment, weather, navigation…, the security of these satellites is extremely important.’

Pakistan reacted by saying: ‘Space is

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Gordon Arthur

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Gordon Arthur


Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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Neelam Mathews

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Neelam Mathews


Neelam Mathews was born in India and completed her education in London.

She has written for …

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