Anti satellite missile (ASAT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shook the whole country from a simple Twitter post. This post said that he would make a major announcement between 11:45 to 12:00.

Hearing this, the heart beat of the media and opposition rose. And the whole country started eagerly waiting for the prime minister to come on the TV. You can guess this thing by looking at this group 

This graph showing interest searches of Zee news (blue),ABP news (red),Aaj tak (yellow). So you can understand how much people were excited to listen to the Prime Minister. And the Prime Minister did not disappoint them. Prime Minister told nation that India has develop anti missile (ASAT) and kill a satellite in low Earth orbit under mission Shakti. 

So what is Anti Satellite Missile and why India needs it--- 

Let's first talk about what an anti-satellite missile is. An ASAT missile is a missile which can kill a satellite in Orbit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this missile kill a satellite in low Earth orbit 300 km away from surface in only 3 minutes.  

Now the concept of killing a satellite in space is not new. America and Russia come with this idea in 1950's. 

Killing a satellite in Orbit is not an easy job. Because even in low Earth orbit satellite travels 300 kilometres away from surface and with the speed of 9.4 kilometre per second.

To put you in perspective A Hennessey Venom car 

 moves around 0.1345 kilometre per second and fastest missile in the world which is thought to be undetectable BRAHMOS moves around 1.029 kilometre per second.

So killing A satellite is an insanely difficult task. That's why only 3 Nations on earth successfully do that. And now India becamas 4th. But why India need a missile like that. 

This is because satellite are a great asset for any country not only they provide things like internet, TV,GPS which is very important for society but they also provide data ,which is very crucial for a nation's security whoever watch The URI know that. And if you are able to kill a nation's satellite it will be on your Mercy. 

In 2007 China launch a KT-1 missile 

and destroyed a weather satellite. First India doesn't wanted to weaponize space but after this event. Efforts are made from India to built an anti satellite missile(ASAT).  

In 2008 V. K. Saraswat who was the chief of DRDO,said that ''India has everything to build an ASAT''. In 2011 some report said that India can built an ASAT in next 5 to 10 years. And now it's finally done. It is a great time of proud for all indians and all scientists involved in project Shakti. 

                        Jai hind.