INDIA - US SPACE COOPERATION – INTERNATIONAL
News: India-U.S.
space cooperation, from handshake to hug
What's in the news?
● Recently,
India and the United States have agreed to advance space collaboration in
several areas under the ‘initiative on critical and emerging technology’
umbrella.
Key takeaways:
● In
November 2022, the USA started its Artemis
programme by launching the Orion
spacecraft towards the moon. India is set to embark on its first human
spaceflight mission in 2024.
● The
two countries have also taken significant efforts in advancing the private
space sector.
initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology’
(iCET):
● Under
the initiative, India and the United States agreed to advance space
collaboration in several areas including human space exploration and commercial
space partnership.
Features:
● India
and US signed the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in May
2022 to elevate and expand strategic
technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the
governments, businesses, and academic institutions of the two countries.
● The
two countries can cooperate on areas that complement each other's strengths,
such as India's expertise in low-cost space missions and the U.S.'s advanced
space technologies.
● Collaboration
in areas such as satellite launches,
lunar exploration, and scientific missions would be mutually beneficial and
help advance the two countries space capabilities.
Space Collaboration:
1. Areas of India-US Space Cooperation:
● A
US-India Space collaboration seems straight forward.
● India
could secure technologies and expertise
by collaborating with an advanced spacefaring nation where the U.S. could
strengthen its relationship with India on a matter that seems less
controversial than others.
2. Artemis programme:
● In
November 2022, the U.S. kicked off its Artemis programme by launching the Orion
spacecraft towards the moon and bringing it safely back to earth. India itself
is set to embark on its first human spaceflight mission (Gaganyaan) in 2024.
● Both
India and U.S. are advancing in the private
space sector.
● Both
India and U.S. have also taken significant strides in advancing the private
space sector. Together, these endeavours will shape and impact U.S. and Indian
space policies and programmes over the next decade.
3. NISAR Mission:
● The
biggest cooperation between the United States and India in civil space
currently is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic
Aperture Radar (NISAR) Earth science mission, which features a
jointly-developed SAR payload that will be integrated onto an Indian-built
satellite and launched by India in 2024.
Challenges:
1. Different areas of focus:
● While
the U.S. has committed to returning to the moon and establishing long-term
capabilities.
○ In
this regard, the Artemis Program, the Artemis Accords, and the Biden
administration’s National Cislunar Science & Technology Strategy constitute
the foundation for American ambitions beyond earth orbits).
○ Whereas,
India’s scientific community focuses on building the nation’s capability in and
under the earth orbits.
● India’s
top priority is to substantially increase its satellite and launch capabilities
in earth orbits and catch up with other spacefaring nations such as China.
2. Capabilities:
● The
asymmetry in capabilities is the second structural
factor limiting India-U.S. space cooperation.
● The
U.S. has the highest number of registered satellites in space and has a range
of launch vehicles serving both commercial and national security needs.
● The
greatest challenge for India here is the lack
of capacity. The country has just over 60 satellites in orbit and cannot
undertake double-digit launches annually.
3. Private Sector:
● For
instance, the private company SpaceX accomplished a record 61 launches in 2022,
significantly more than any other commercial organization or nation did.
● The
problem of replacing the International Space Station by 2030 with numerous
smaller stations has also been taken up by the American private sector.
● The
Indian government allows the private sector access to the space business only
in 2020.
● The
United States has few technological incentives to collaborate with India
because it already has a large network of allies for space cooperation.
4. Disagreements on space governance:
● Even
though countries have a mindset to collaborate, the structural factors
overpower diplomatic incentives to pursue long term Cooperation.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Sustained Engagement:
● It
is to sustain the engagement between academics, the private sector and
state-led entities in the two countries.
● Sustained
engagement could also take the form of collaborating on highly specialized
projects such as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission.
● India
and the U.S. must find novel solutions to cooperate in the new space age to
achieve a meaningful partnership.
2. Public-private collaboration:
● A
partnership between state and private entities; or, as agreed in the most
recent meeting, a convention of American and Indian aerospace companies to
advance collaboration under the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Commercial Lunar Payload Services
(CLPS) program.
3. Reducing dependence:
● Indian
astronauts might train with American private enterprises.
● While
ISRO develops its own astronaut training
facility, this might assist India in reducing its reliance on Russia.
4. Government Owned NSIL:
● Another
novel arrangement could be a consortium led by the government-owned New Space
India Limited which involves private companies in the U.S.
● This
setup could expedite India’s human spaceflight program and give the U.S. an
opportunity to accommodate Indian interests in earth orbits.
The
US and India have taken significant strides in advancing the private space
sector. Together, these endeavors have the capability to shape and impact U.S.
and Indian space policies and programmes over the next decade.