New Delhi (NVI): A customized postage stamp ‘My Stamp’ to honour A-SAT – India’s First Anti Satellite Missile – was released today by the Department of Posts on the occasion of Engineers Day in the presence National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
This postage stamp release reminds the nation about technological achievements in the field of Space and Defence, which has made everyone proud, said an official release.
On March 27, 2019, on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti’ from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
The DRDO developed A-SAT Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode. The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters. Tracking data from range sensors confirmed that the mission met all its objectives.
The operation held even more significance as it was entirely indigenous which demonstrated the nation’s capability to develop such complex and critical missions. A number of industries also participated in the mission.
With this success, India became fourth nation in the world to possess such capability.
Ajit Doval in his address stated that it was a very brave step on the part of DRDO to go for Mission Shakti. He further stated that DRDO has plenty of achievements to be proud of; however the future is in space based technologies.
“Satellites are critical and with this capability India can defend its assets in space. He appreciated the way in which the mission was kept a secret and complimented the whole DRDO fraternity for doing well in all other fields,” Dozal added.
Speaking on the occasion, G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary DDR&D & Chairman DRDO thanked PM Modi and NSA for assigning such a critical and complex mission to DRDO.
He further stated that A-SAT mission enabled development of many technologies and capabilities for precision kill at higher altitudes. He called upon DRDO fraternity to take up more such complex and critical projects.
The stamp release event was also attended by Pradipta Kumar Bisoi, Secretary, Department of Posts and Senior Scientists of DRDO.
-CHK
