Mission Shakti aka Project XSV-1: India’s First Anti-Satellite Test (ASAT)

Abstract

The Mission Shakti, also called as Project XSV-1 was India’s first Anti-Satellite Test (ASAT) conducted successfully on 27 March 2019. The PDV-MK II interceptor missile designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was launched from Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island to intercept the Microsat-R satellite. The Microsat-R satellite, which acts as a prime target for the mission was India’s imaging satellite manufactured by DRDO and launched into the orbit eight weeks before the test by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Project XSV-1 had been under planning since 2016. As India’s space programme is rapidly growing, its nation’s responsibility to safeguard the country’s assets present in outer space. Also, the nation is concerned about the threats it faces in outer space; the ASAT test was conducted to examine the capability of the nation to defend itself in space. The mission was planned at the lowest possible altitude to avoid any risk to the operational space assets. India has demonstrated its capability to legitimate deterrence against increasing threats to nations emerging space assets from various kinds of missiles. With this particular successful test, India becomes the fourth country among an exclusive group of space-faring nations to perform ASAT. The paper provides an overview of the overall Mission Shakti, aka Project XSV-1.