India-­U.S. space cooperation, from handshake to hug

Context: 

The eighth meeting of the U.S.­India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) held recently,  US India space cooperation was taken to a higher level for mutual benefits.

Relation & Cooperation: 

• India and the United States agreed to advance space collaboration in several areas, under the ‘initiative on critical and emerging technology’ umbrella, including human space exploration and commercial space partnership.
• 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. 
• The two countries have also taken significant strides in advancing the private space sector. 
• India could secure technologies and expertise by collaborating with the US; the U.S. could strengthen its relationship with India on a matter that seems less controversial than others.

A mismatch in interests, capabilities: 

• 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.

• ISRO currently undertakes fewer than 10 launches each year. The U.S. has the highest number of registered satellites in space.

• Role of private sector: 

1. 1. SpaceX has managed to achieve a record 61 launches in 2022, far higher than the number of launches undertaken by any other commercial entity or country. 
   2. The American private sector has also assumed the challenge of replacing the International Space Station by 2030 with many smaller stations.
   3. The Indian government opened the space industry to the private sector only in 2020.

• The greatest challenge for India here is lack of capacity. India cannot undertake double digit launches annually. 

• There are disagreements on how best to govern space activities on the moon and other celestial bodies.

Some novel solutions:

• Sustain the engagement between academics, the private sector and state­led 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.
• One form of cooperation is a partnership between state and private entities.
• India could send its astronauts to train at American private companies. This could help India reduce its dependence on Russia while ISRO builds its own astronaut training center. 
• Another novel arrangement could be a consortium led by the government owned NewSpace India Limited which involves private companies in the U.S. 
• This setup could accelerate India’s human spaceflight programme and give the U.S. an opportunity to accommodate Indian interests in earth orbits.

News Source: The Hindu