Housing roughly a sixth of the worlds population, it would be silly to expect India to remain on the sidelines while its western and easter neighbors head off into the final frontier.
Although India probably lacks the engineering capital to take on rivals such as China, they may be able to match the red dragon by outsourcing their projects to the emerging space industry.
(Space Mart) India's space agency ISRO will step up outsourcing of works related to satellite and rocket building to the private sector, which in the long run could churn out overall systems as the organisation focuses on research and development. [...]
"Yes, in the last 10 years we have not added even a single person to ISRO... our programmes have multiplied by more than three-fold. That shows industrial participation has come to that extent", [Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan] Nair said.
India seems to be taking a cue from Russia and America, except that they are taking this to the next level. By outsourcing needed projects to the emerging space (or alt.space) industry, India will be benefiting its own economy and cementing its position within the nation.
This may also help them catch up to China who ironically sees the US, not India as its main rival. India has enormous potential as a future space power, and it may not be too long until we see colonies dotting the lunar surface next to Indian flags.
Related: Emerging Asia by Ted Semon and Emerging Asia by Gregory Benford (via Paul Gilster).
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I really don't know what the term 'long run' means.
ReplyDeleteIndia also faces (and perhaps to a greater extent) the problems that the West faces. Scientists don't like 'other' people meddling in their stuff.
So, it is upto Madhavan Nair to implement the changes that he's suggesting. They're really tough.