On July 1, 2021, India unveiled its new space policy, India's Space Policy 2023, which aims to make India a global space power while also enhancing its space diplomacy with the countries of the global south. As one of the fastest-growing space economies in the world, India has made significant strides in space technology, launching its first satellite in 1975 and becoming the fourth country to send a spacecraft to the moon in 2019.
India's space diplomacy has been on the rise in recent years, as the country has sought to establish itself as a regional power in the Asia-Pacific and a major player in the global space community. This has included cooperation with other countries in the region and beyond, including the United States, Russia, European Union, China, Japan, and even countries in Africa.
The strategic importance of India's space diplomacy was highlighted in March 2019, when India successfully shot down a low-orbit satellite, becoming only the fourth country in the world to have that capability. The test was widely seen as a message to China and a demonstration of India's ability to protect its national security interests in space.
India's Space Diplomacy in the Global South
India's space diplomacy with the countries of the global south has been a key component of its overall space strategy in recent years. Through its space diplomacy initiatives, India has sought to build partnerships with other countries to share knowledge, expertise and resources, and to use space technology to address the challenges faced by developing countries.
One of the most significant examples of India's space diplomacy in action is the South Asian Satellite, launched in May 2017, which provides satellite-based communication and disaster management support to eight countries in the region. This initiative is just one of many that demonstrates India's commitment to using space technology for the benefit of the global south.
Another example of India's space diplomacy is the training and capacity-building programs that it has launched in partnership with other countries. These programs have helped to develop the skills and knowledge of space professionals in other countries, and have helped to build the capacity of these countries to harness space technology for their own development.
Quantifiable Examples
India's space program is one of the most successful in the world, and has made significant contributions to the fields of remote sensing, satellite communications, navigation, and space science. Some of the key quantifiable examples of India's space program include:
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched 342 satellites for 34 different countries, generating revenue of more than $100 million.
- In 2020, India launched 10 satellites in a single mission for the first time.
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission, launched in 2013, was the first Indian interplanetary mission and the first successful mission to Mars by any Asian country.
- India's Chandrayaan-2 mission, launched in 2019, was the first to explore the moon's south pole, and included a soft landing attempt, making India only the fourth country to attempt a soft landing on the moon.
Conclusion
India's space diplomacy is an important component of its overall foreign policy strategy. By building partnerships with other countries to share technology, knowledge, and resources, India is working to become a global space power while also helping to address the challenges faced by developing countries.
India's space program is one of the most successful in the world, and has made significant contributions to the fields of remote sensing, satellite communications, navigation, and space science. With its new space policy, India is poised to become an even more important player in the global space community, and to continue its efforts to build bridges with other countries through space diplomacy.
References:
1. https://www.isro.gov.in/
2. https://www.space.com/india-10-satellites-single-launch-2020
3. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40824639
4. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49077470
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Curated by Team Akash.Mittal.Blog
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