On March 27, India successfully conducted its Mission Shakti anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test, in which it destroyed one of its Low Earth Orbit satellites. Prior to India’s test, only the United States, Russia, and China had demonstrated this capability. The US and the Soviet Union developed the technology during the Cold War, while China’s entry to this select club came in January 2007. Despite the importance of this milestone for space security and the salience of space in international security, India’s test received little attention abroad. Although the US’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initially criticized the test for creating debris near the International Space Station and suspended its cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the decision to resume activities in less than a week was made “based on guidance received from the White House.” In this Policy Alert, we dig into the Rising Powers’ views on India’s new capability. Read the full Policy Alert here.
