India Chose ‘Much Lower Orbit’ For Mission Shakti To Avoid Space Debris: DRDO

India chose a much lower orbit of less than 300 km during Mission Shakti for "capability demonstration" and to avoid threat of debris to global space assets, Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Chairman G Satheesh Reddy said.

His remark comes days after National Aeronautics and Space Administration raised concerns about the spread of debris from the Anti-Satellite Test India conducted on March 27.

Reddy, at a briefing held at the DRDO Bhawan, said the interceptor had the capability to intercept satellites in an orbit of 1,000 km. "An orbit of around 300 km was chosen for the test for capability demonstration, and the purpose was to avoid threat of debris to any global space assets," Reddy said. "The debris created following the intercept will decay in a matter of weeks," he added.

India's Ministry of External Affairs, too, has said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there is no space debris.