Space: A Global Prospect for National Development, Lessons from the Indian Experience
- Paper number
IAC-07-E3.1.01
- Author
Ms. Angela Peura, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Jason Hay, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Ian Christensen, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
In the past 20 years, the number of developing countries engaging in space activities has risen dramatically. The specific motivations for these countries are as unique as the countries themselves; however, they usually share two common factors. First, space programs in developing countries frequently emphasize tangible benefits to society and its people. Second, these space programs often are tied to the country’s broader development objectives, including building a national science and technology base. This paper will discuss a specific model — India’s experience in space — that has successfully addressed these objectives and might be applicable to other emergent space nations. India’s space program provides an example of national development through space exploration and utilization. India’s Department of Space’s Charter emphasizes a primary national objective “of promoting development and application of space science and technology to assist in all-round development of the nation.” The orientation of India's space program has allowed it to: contribute to the country’s economic growth; support beneficial societal applications; and help build broader scientific and technical capacity and infrastructure. The ways in which this has occurred may contain a number of lessons for other developing nations with an interest in space activities. This paper will identify these lessons through a detailed discussion of India’s space program and the stages of its development. It will begin by introducing the role of science and technology in the context of developing nations. Then it will provide a history of India’s space program and how it relates to societal development. India’s future exploration efforts (i.e. lunar missions), and how these activities affect national development, will be discussed. The paper will conclude by comparing India's experience with that of other developing countries with nascent or emergent space programs. Numerous countries around the globe could benefit from India’s experience. These may include some African nations such as Nigeria and South Africa, some states of the former Soviet Union, and others that seek to enhance their development through space. A Science and Technology Capacity Index, such as that developed by RAND, will be employed in identifying those countries where the Indian experience and model might be a good fit. The science and technology index will allow for standardization among countries addressed in this discussion, and will facilitate comparison between the different countries. In this way, this paper will present India’s experience with space as a model for societal development that can be applied across the globe.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E3.1.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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