AWAITING THE PUSH IN INDIA’S SECOND SPACE AGE
- Context
India has achieved a tremendous amount of glory in it’s first space age although India’s start was slow but the amount of growth it achieved despite is marvelous.
- India In First Space Age
India’s first space age began in 1975 with the launch of Aryabhata, its first satellite, which was named after the famous Indian mathematician and astronomer. The satellite was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union, and it carried several scientific instruments to study X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays.
Since then, India has made significant progress in the field of space exploration, and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has become a world-renowned space agency. Some of India’s notable space achievements include the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-1 mission to the moon in 2008 and the Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014, making India the first nation in the world to successfully enter Mars’ orbit on its first attempt.
Today, India has an active space program, and ISRO continues to work on several ambitious missions, including the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space by 2022.
- India In Second Space Age So Far
India’s second space age can be characterized by its ambitious space programs and missions aimed at strengthening its capabilities in the field of space technology. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is at the forefront of this space age, with several successful missions in recent years.
One of the key milestones of India’s second space age was the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008, which was India’s first lunar mission. The mission involved the launch of a spacecraft that orbited the moon and conducted scientific experiments to study the lunar surface. India followed this up with the successful launch of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) in 2013, which made India the first country to successfully reach Mars in its first attempt.
In recent years, ISRO has continued to push the boundaries with its space missions, including the launch of the South Asian Satellite in 2017, which provides communication and broadcasting services to countries in the region. In addition, ISRO has also developed the technology to launch reusable space shuttles, which could significantly reduce the cost of space exploration.
Overall, India’s second space age is marked by its focus on innovation, technology development, and achieving ambitious space missions. It has put India on the global map as a significant player in the field of space technology and exploration.
- Journey Of India In Space
India’s space journey is a remarkable story of determination, perseverance, and innovation. India began its space program in the 1960s, shortly after gaining independence from British colonial rule. In order to advance space technology and its uses for regional and national development, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established in 1969.
India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975 using a Soviet rocket. Since then, India has launched numerous satellites for various purposes such as communication, earth observation, navigation, and scientific research. Some of the notable achievements in India’s space program are:
In 2008, India successfully launched Chandrayaan-1, its first mission to the moon. The mission discovered water on the moon and provided valuable data on the moon’s geology and mineralogy.
In 2014, India became the first country to successfully put a spacecraft into the Mars orbit on its first attempt. The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan, was launched in November 2013 and entered Mars orbit in September 2014.
India broke the previous record of 37 satellites launched by Russia in 2014 by launching a record-breaking 104 satellites in a single mission in 2017.
In 2019, India successfully tested its anti-satellite (ASAT) missile, making it the fourth country in the world to have this capability.
ISRO has also collaborated with other countries in space missions, such as launching satellites for other countries and participating in joint missions. India’s space program has been instrumental in providing critical services such as weather forecasting, disaster management, communication, and navigation, as well as advancing scientific research and technology development.
Overall, India’s space journey is a testament to the country’s ability to innovate and achieve remarkable feats despite limited resources. The country’s space program has brought pride to the nation and contributed to its development and progress.
- Indian And Global Economy In Terms Of Space Contribution
By 2025, the space industry is projected to grow to 600 billion dollars from 450 billion in 2020.
In contrast, the Indian space economy was worth $6 billion in 2020 and is predicted to grow to $13 billion by 2025.
By 2030, it might exceed $60 billion, directly supporting more than two lakh employment.
India accomplish this by:
- by boosting the government’s share of end-user revenue, which is now only a fifth.
India’s space economy is 26% made up of the media and entertainment industries. with another 21% going to consumer and retail services.
- by stepping up activity in upstream space.
70% of India’s space economy is made up of downstream businesses like satellite services and related ground segments.
- A smaller portion is accounted for by upstream operations like satellite manufacture and launch services.
through establishing beneficial laws and conditions.
- Government initiatives to foster a supportive climate for business:
- There have been discussions about commercializing PSLV and GSLV.
- The first draft of the space activities bill was proposed by the government in 2017, but it expired in 2019.
- To take the position of Antrix, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) was founded.
As a single point of clearance for the commercial sector, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was established in 2020.
- An industry organisation called the Indian Space organisation (ISpA) was founded.
