Maarg Manthan · Topic 12.14

Space Weaponry: Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) Technology

Science & Technology › Space Technology and ISRO · Topic 12.14

An anti-satellite weapon, or A-SAT, is a system designed to damage, disable or destroy a satellite in orbit. Types include direct ascent missiles that hit a satellite with a kinetic impact, co-orbital weapons that manoeuvre close to a target, lasers and microwave weapons that blind or burn sensors, jamming of signals, cyber attacks and nuclear explosions in space. The United States tested an A-SAT in 1985, the Soviet Union developed one, China destroyed its own weather satellite in 2007, and India conducted Mission Shakti on 27 March 2019, when a ballistic missile defence interceptor of the Defence Research and Development Organisation destroyed a test satellite in low Earth orbit at about 300 kilometres altitude, making India the fourth country with this ability.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Space Technology and ISRO

At a Glance

India’s test Mission Shakti, 27 March 2019
Agency DRDO
Altitude About 300 km, LEO
India’s rank Fourth with A-SAT
Key treaty Outer Space Treaty, 1967
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Space Technology and ISRO

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of precise timekeeping and navigation. It moves to the military side of space, in which satellites that support navigation and communication have become targets. Previous topic: Deep Space Atomic Clock. Next topic: Space Junk and Graveyard Orbits.

What Are the Types of Anti-Satellite Weapons?

Type	How it works
Direct ascent kinetic kill	A missile is launched from the ground and hits the satellite. Mission Shakti and the Chinese test of 2007 are examples
Co-orbital	A satellite manoeuvres close to the target and then explodes or uses a robotic arm to disable it
Directed energy	Lasers or high power microwaves dazzle sensors or damage electronics
Electronic warfare	Jamming of uplinks or downlinks and spoofing of signals
Cyber attack	Hacking the ground station or satellite software
Nuclear detonation in space	Creates electromagnetic pulse and radiation. Banned by the Outer Space Treaty
Soft versus hard kill	Soft kill disables a satellite temporarily, hard kill destroys it and creates debris

What Was Mission Shakti and What Are the Concerns?

Date and place: 27 March 2019 from the Abdul Kalam Island launch complex off the Odisha coast
Interceptor: a three stage missile, Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor of DRDO with a kinetic kill vehicle
Target: an Indian satellite, Microsat-R, in low Earth orbit at about 300 km, hit within about three minutes
Low altitude choice: the test was done in a low orbit so that debris would fall back and burn up in a few weeks
Countries with A-SAT: United States in 1985, Soviet Union and later Russia, China in 2007, India in 2019
Russia 2021: Russia destroyed its own satellite in November 2021, which created thousands of fragments and risks for the Station
Moratorium: the United States announced in April 2022 that it would not conduct destructive direct ascent A-SAT tests, and the United Nations General Assembly backed a similar call
Concerns: debris, escalation and the militarisation of space

What Else Should You Remember?

Outer Space Treaty, 1967: bans nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in orbit and on celestial bodies, but does not ban conventional A-SAT weapons on the ground
Space as a domain: modern armed forces rely on satellites for navigation, communication, reconnaissance and missile warning, so these are targets
Defence Space Agency: India created the Defence Space Agency in 2019 to coordinate military space operations, supported by the Defence Space Research Organisation
DRDO role: the Defence Research and Development Organisation designed the interceptor, based on its ballistic missile defence programme
India’s stand: the Government said the test was not directed against any country, and that India remained committed to the peaceful use of space and to not having an arms race in space
PAROS: Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space is a long-standing resolution at the United Nations that India supports
Space debris: debris from destructive tests stays in orbit and threatens other satellites, as in Space Junk and Graveyard Orbits
Space situational awareness: tracking systems such as ISRO’s NETRA help to protect satellites
Deterrence: a country able to hit satellites may deter attacks on its own space assets
Dual use: many space technologies, such as rendezvous and robotic arms, can be used for peaceful or hostile purposes
IndSpaceEx: India has held its first space war game exercise to test readiness. Check the latest details
Link: launchers that carry satellites are explained in Launch Vehicle Technology: PSLV, GSLV and Cryogenic Engines

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Mission Shakti facts: date, altitude, DRDO
Types of A-SAT: kinetic and non-kinetic
Law: Outer Space Treaty and PAROS
Current affairs link: space doctrines and debris
Common errors: saying that India was the first country to test an A-SAT or that the target was in geostationary orbit

As an analytical point, A-SAT capability gives deterrence but adds risk of debris and escalation. India’s mix of capability and support for peaceful use of space is meant to balance both concerns.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Facts Mission Shakti
Law OST and PAROS
Risk Debris

What Came Next?

The next topic covers space junk and graveyard orbits. Next topic: Space Junk and Graveyard Orbits.

Key People and Terms

A-SAT Anti-satellite weapon
Kinetic kill Destroying by impact
DRDO Defence Research and Development Organisation
PAROS Prevention of arms race in outer space
Counter-space Capabilities against space assets
Microsat-R Target satellite

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Mission Shakti: 27 March 2019.
Altitude: about 300 km.
India: fourth country with A-SAT.
Outer Space Treaty: 1967.
Defence Space Agency set up: 2019.

Do Not Confuse With

A-SAT and ballistic missile defence Hitting satellites versus hitting missiles
Kinetic and non-kinetic Impact versus jamming or lasers
Weaponisation and militarisation Weapons in space versus military use of space

Memory Hook

Twenty-seven March nineteen, three hundred kilometres, India fourth after the US, Russia, China.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about Mission Shakti and the legal and strategic issues. These points help.

Capability Deterrence
Risk Debris and arms race
Law Treaty gaps

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the strategic significance of Mission Shakti and the concerns about militarisation of outer space.”

How to Answer

Facts Test details.
Strategy Deterrence.
Concerns Debris, arms race.
Way Norms and treaties.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Mission Shakti date and facts, A-SAT types, Outer Space Treaty. GS Paper 3: science and technology, defence, security and space.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mission Shakti?

Mission Shakti was an anti-satellite test conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation on 27 March 2019. A ballistic missile defence interceptor launched from the Odisha coast destroyed an Indian test satellite, Microsat-R, in low Earth orbit at about 300 kilometres altitude, making India the fourth country after the United States, Russia and China to have this capability.

What are the types of anti-satellite weapons?

Anti-satellite weapons include direct ascent missiles that destroy a satellite by impact, co-orbital satellites that approach and disable a target, directed energy weapons such as lasers and microwaves, electronic jamming and spoofing, and cyber attacks. Destructive tests create debris, while jamming and cyber attacks can disable a satellite without leaving debris.

Why was Mission Shakti conducted at a low altitude?

The test was conducted at about 300 kilometres so that the debris would fall back into the atmosphere and burn up within weeks, limiting the risk to other satellites. The Government said that the test did not create long-lived debris, although some scientists noted that fragments temporarily raised the risk to the International Space Station.

Does the Outer Space Treaty ban anti-satellite weapons?

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 bans the placing of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies and requires the Moon and other bodies to be used for peaceful purposes. It does not specifically ban conventional anti-satellite weapons or ground-based missiles, which is seen as a gap in space law.

What is the Defence Space Agency?

The Defence Space Agency is a tri-service body of the Indian armed forces, established in 2019 and based in Bengaluru, to coordinate military space operations and protect India's space assets. It works with the Defence Space Research Organisation, which develops space warfare technologies, and with ISRO.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Mission Shakti was conducted on 27 March 2019.

True

By DRDO.

2 India was the first country to test an anti-satellite weapon.

False

The United States did in 1985.

3 The Outer Space Treaty bans weapons of mass destruction in orbit.