Space ... has always fascinated me! I must have been 8-9 years old when I first read the encyclopedia and these graphic informative books about the Apollo Missions and NASA, at that age I was unaware of ISRO programs or the ones that were attempted by the Soviet Union. I was 12 when I first saw E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, I still remember observing the weird shape of the spaceship that ET departs before which ET holds up a finger on Elliot's head and says I'll be right here... Damn 20 years !!!, and that scene still makes me tear up. And then came Koi Mil Gaya which in hindsight was a different movie than E.T. but more on that later...
What blew my mind was it took us merely 54 years from taking a flight in our atmosphere to putting a satellite in space. Of course, the American and Soviet space race stopped about 10 years later once Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin supported by the unsung Michael Collins landed on the lunar surface. Talking about unsung entities ISRO made a mark first by being a commercial carrier for satellites with PSLVs and GSLVs till 23 August 2023 when with the Chandrayaan Missions, ISRO became the only space agency to soft-land a man-made object on the lunar south pole region, and the fourth nation to ever achieve that feat.
While Chandrayaan 1 and its impact probe sent us data for the existence of ice on lunar poles, Chandrayaan 2 provided guidance for Vikram Lander of Chandarayaan 3. Not to forget, Mangalyaan was amongst the most economical orbital insertion missions in the history of orbital insertions.
In 1969, ISRO's birth ignited India's cosmic aspirations. Launching Aryabhata in '75 marked the dawn of exploration. From Mars orbiter to lunar water detection, ISRO excelled. Aiming higher, a manned Moon mission is on the horizon. Among 84 launches, 9 faltered, a testament to space's challenges. ISRO's canvas holds 114 Indian and 342 foreign satellites, bridging stars with data. IN-SPACe's '20 birth unlocked cosmic entrepreneurship through NSIL's two missions.ISRO is in the advent of a new space race, a race where we will be sending a man into space, making a space station, and heading for the Sun, Venus, Mars, and whatnot. BUT NASA at the same time is heading back to the Moon but but but ... it is worth noting that this is the year NASA and ESA launched the JWST ( James Web Space Telescope) the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. ESA further launched Euclid Telescope and Voyager 2 and Voyager 1 are still travelling in interstellar space at mind-boggling speeds. So ISRO in so far as Space Exploration goes is at the start point.
BUT HERE IS THE BAD NEWS
I remember that NASA has always had to justify their budget for such missions, a glimpse of that can be seen in the underrated gem of a movie 'Swades' where project director Mohan Bhargava is asked what such a budget would justify. He simply responds by stating that water is the most important resource and no budget can justify the launching of a satellite that would map global precipitation measurements around Earth. For that matter the plot of Interstellar is that mankind wanted to invest in farmers and not space exploration hence the Americans replaced their study material for kids as moon landings as conspiracies to bankrupt the Soviet Union.
But now that ISRO has done Satellite launches, Moon landing, Oribitor missions at a fraction of the cost of NASA, ESA, Russia and China.
The obvious question the Americans would ask is why couldn't NASA do the previous missions at a lesser cost... For that matter, the race would be justified only if Americans do a ONE-UP than India, which it is doing by resending a female lead crew on the lunar surface.
The realm of space exploration has historically been dominated by global space agencies like NASA, ESA, Russia's Roscosmos, and China's CNSA. These organizations have consistently invested substantial budgets into their missions, fostering groundbreaking discoveries and pushing the boundaries of human understanding. However, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is carving a new path by demonstrating that low-budget space exploration is not only feasible but can also yield significant results. This shift in approach could potentially trigger a domino effect, compelling other major space agencies to reconsider their financial strategies and prioritize cost efficiency. In this article, we explore the implications of ISRO's low-budget space exploration and its potential impact on the world of space exploration.
ISRO has earned global recognition for achieving impressive feats within constrained budgets. From the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) to the Chandrayaan mission, ISRO has showcased its ability to accomplish ambitious goals without exorbitant financial commitments. This unique approach has challenged the conventional belief that space exploration demands astronomical budgets, redefining the standards for success in the field.
ISRO's achievements could potentially trigger a ripple effect that influences other space agencies to rethink their financial strategies. With ISRO achieving milestones at a fraction of the cost, traditional behemoths like NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and CNSA might face increasing pressure to justify their massive budgets. A sense of healthy competition could emerge, encouraging agencies to adopt more streamlined approaches and innovative techniques, ultimately leading to a reduction in costs.
The pressure to adapt to a lower budget reality might lead established agencies to reconsider their priorities. Rather than focusing on extravagant projects that demand substantial resources, there could be a shift towards more pragmatic goals that maximize scientific return on investment. This could mean smaller missions, collaborative efforts, and a renewed emphasis on efficiency in all aspects of space exploration.
Low-budget constraints often drive innovation. ISRO's approach has already led to the development of ingenious solutions, such as the use of off-the-shelf components and novel propulsion systems. Similarly, other agencies may need to foster a culture of innovation to thrive within tighter budgets. This could accelerate advancements in propulsion, materials science, and automation, benefiting not only space exploration but various technological domains on Earth as well.
ISRO's success story highlights the potential of international collaboration and resource sharing. The global space community could witness increased cooperation between agencies, enabling the pooling of resources, knowledge, and expertise. This collaborative spirit could lead to joint missions, shared infrastructure, and optimized utilization of assets, ultimately benefiting all parties involved.
While the idea of a domino effect triggered by ISRO's low-budget success is exciting, it's important to acknowledge the challenges. Space exploration inherently carries risks, and cutting budgets excessively could compromise safety and mission success. Striking the right balance between cost-effectiveness and mission integrity will be crucial.
One has to understand that whilst thumping the fact that yes ISRO did what no one could, in fewer attempts and lower budgets they had the publicly available data published by NASA, ESA and Soviet Missions ( I am not sure if Roscosmos, and CNSA publish). Therefore borrowing the words of Neil Armstrong and altering them here for effect - these are small steps for Man and any achievement or failure is a huge step for mankind - not for an Indian, not for an NRI, not for British-born Desi, not for an American but for humanity!
Yet, a void persists: India lacks space laws for a changing landscape. Doubts linger about upholding the Outer Space Treaty, Moon Agreement, and Liability Convention amid private players. An 'Avatar '-scenario looms, urging responsible exploration as India etches its cosmic saga.
Global governmental spending on space programs
Governments-with-the-largest-space-budgets
OECD data on Space Budgets around the world
Space exploration to cost 31b globally
DISCLAIMER: This is an unpopular option based on a study of past budgets and comparisons of various space missions, While I've mentioned the links above that I have read in the past few weeks none of them theorise that the space race will become the thirst for capitalistic gains, this is just a prediction.
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