The formation of an Integrated Space Cell was announced on 10 June 2010 by Defence Minister Shri. A. K. Antony[REF] who said it was being established because of "the growing threat" to India's space assets.
The announcement came less than a month after China used a medium-range ballistic missile to shoot down one of its own aging satellites, a Chinese Feng Yun 1C polar orbit weather satellite that it had launched into orbit in 1999.