• India has to travel much before it catches up with rest of the world in private sector participation in space programmes.
• India’s private sector has the talent and experience to shorten that distance if Government creates appropriate policy environment.
• There is growing range of use of space possibilities –
• For delivering broadband internet.
• Mining of the Moon.
• Space manufacturing.
• Deep space exploration.
• However, currently India’s share in global space market is 2 percent.
• Government wants India to increase its share to 8 percent in coming years.

World’s history of space before Private companies’ entry

• During emergence of space in second half of 20^th century, Governments were leading the programme.
• It was due to use of space for military purposes.
• Space programmes became Government monopoly because of cost, complexity and research-intensity of space effort.

Private Companies involvement in space around the world

• In 21^st century, role of the private sector in space has expanded.
• The private sector’s involvement is complemented with growing international cooperation to increase commercial possibilities in space.

Today private companies own satellite business such as:

• Space X:  A private spaceflight company that sends satellites and people to space.
• Was first private spacecraft to carry astronauts to orbit.
• Amazon’s Blue Origin rocket will soon develop its launching vehicle.
• Starlink satellite system has more than 2,300 satellites in low earth orbit-
• It delivers various space services.
• Example-It provided military information to Ukraine’s armed forces in their war against Russia.
• Amazon’s Project Kuiper plans to launch more than 3,000 satellites in the coming years.
• It will offer services like broadband internet.
• This will involve making three satellites a day.
• NASA’s Artemis project
• Many private companies and countries are helping USA for this project.
• Aerospace companies like Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Space X are helping.
• Countries like France, Canada, and Japan are involved.
• Artemis 1 rocket was launched on 16^th November 2022.
• Under Artemis mission, NASA will land first woman and first person of different race on Moon using technologies to explore lunar surface.

International cooperation and competition of space programmes

• Idea of international cooperation in outer space was developed in multilateral treaties.
• It was geopolitical competition that shaped space programmes of the major countries during Cold War era.
• Competition between U.S. and Soviet Union made them cooperate with other countries’ space programme.
• It was part of the Cold War strategy of winning friends and influencing nations.
• They had developed bilateral cooperation in space to demonstrate their desire for peace.
• European countries together developed European Space Agency.
• Many countries like India began its own national space programmes.
• India offered space cooperation with other friendly developing countries.
• Russia and China are collaborating in space programmes like building joint base on the Moon.
• This programme will establish long term human presence on moon.
• Cooperation in space is also discussed by Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.

Space programmes in India

• India’s aim was to support outer space to accelerate national development.
• Later, space programmes were used for military and commercial purposes.
• India’s space programme began with cooperation with Western countries and later with the Soviet Union.
• In 1974, Non-proliferation sanctions on India after its first nuclear test led to withdrawal of space cooperation by other countries.
• After civil nuclear initiative sanctions were relaxed.
• India in 2016 became part of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
• MTCR regulates commerce in space related commodities and technologies.
• MTCR limits the proliferation of missiles and missile technology (nuclear capable specifically).
• India in 2017 became part of Wassenaar Arrangement
• It controls trade in dual use technologies- civilian and military purposes.
• It exchanges information on transfer of conventional weapons.
• For India, outer space until now was about “development” and “national prestige”.

Private sector in space programmes of India

• Airtel in India is a partner of OneWeb corporation that offers connectivity through its 500 satellites.
• Godrej & Boyce, Larsen & Toubro, and Walchandnagar Industries are some of private companies that have contributed to Indian space programme.
• India is drawing on foreign capital to support its start-ups.

Vikram S launcher

• It is first private Indian rocket in space built by company Skyroot Aerospace.
• It was launched recently in a mission called Prarambh.
• It was launched as a result of Government’s push to open up the Indian space programme for participation by Indian start-ups.
• Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund was a major investor in Skyroot Aerospace.

Suggestions for India’s space programme

• It must expand its purpose to increase business and enhance economy.
• To raise India’s share in global space market, it must draw in the private sector companies to play a larger role.
• Foreign Direct Investment should be allowed in all section of India’s space programme as many Western aerospace companies wants to invest.
• Currently FDI is allowed under government route only for satellite establishment and operations.

India has just started to enhance the contribution of its private sector in outer space which must grow exponentially in the near future. India is now able to understand that international cooperation is not just an “add-on” to the national space programme but it must be an integral part of India’s space strategy.