These Simulations Reveal What Happened During India's Anti-Satellite Missile Test (Videos)

[Judi Lynn]

These Simulations Reveal What Happened During India's Anti-Satellite Missile Test (Videos)
By Doris Elin Salazar 9 hours ago Spaceflight

To piece together what happened during the anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test-fired by India's military defense organization last week (March 27), a software company combed through information from Indian officials, radar data, existing knowledge on how past satellites have broken up — intentionally or not — and more.

Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI) created two simulations — one published hours after Wednesday's launch and another the following day (March 28) — that aim to show the event, known as "Mission Shakti," as it might have looked from space. AGI specializes in the aerospace and defense field.

Their recent videos include information Indian officials released, such as the launch site on Abdul Kalam Island and the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) filed that day indicating an area over the Indian Ocean blocked out for flight-safety reasons.

More:
https://www.space.com/india-anti-satellite-missile-test-agi-simulations.html?utm_source=notification

[LonePirate]

1. Does the tech exist to send a drone to these satellites to push them back to Earth?

If we can control rovers on Mars and drones on Earth, surely we can control drones orbiting Earth.

It simply needs to grab or attach itself to the satellite then propel itself to descend into the atmosphere to burn up.

[cstanleytech]

2. I suspect its not as simple as that as it would have to match the orbit and that can be tricky.

[LonePirate]

3. We routinely send cargo pods to the ISS. Surely that is far more complicated.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. It's a lot cheaper to attack a satellite than tow it

Realistically, they're not going to bother doing this the 'clean' way.