At an inaugural session of a two-day G-20 Space Economy Leaders Meeting in Bengaluru on July 6, 2023, the Union Minister of Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, said that India is a frontline nation when it comes to space technology. He also complimented the G-20 Sherpa team and his team for hosting the event successfully.
The event saw representatives from the world’s leading space agencies gathered under one roof in Bengaluru. The minister at the occasion said, “I must compliment the G-20 Sherpa and his team for having this event over here.
This was the Space Economy’s Leaders Meeting, the 4th of its kind, and we had presentations from as many as 17 or 18 G-20 Countries. India is a frontline nation as far as our space technologies and capabilities are concerned.”
India has become significant in space science and technology developments (S&T). The credit for this goes to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the government support provided to the agency. ISRO is the sixth largest space agency in the world, and it holds an exceptional success rate. Moreover, with 400 private space companies, India ranks fifth globally in number of space companies.
India has grown significantly in terms of space technologies. India has made remarkable and landmark achievements in the space sector. Some of which include Mangalyaan (Mission to Mars) or Mars Orbiter Mission.
The main objective is to establish Indian technological capability to reach Martian orbit and explore the surface feature, morphology, mineralogy and atmosphere of Mars by indigenous space scientific instruments. India holds the distinction of being the first country to have reached the Mars Orbit in its first attempt, which was way cheaper than the Western Standards.
India has launched missions to the moon and deployed two lunar vehicles to the satellite, namely Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, and it will be launching its third lunar mission (Chandrayaan-3) on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 PM (Indian Standard Time). These missions aim to map and study the lunar surface, water molecules and chemical cum mineralogical composition.
India has launched 23 Indian Satellites and 31 Foreign Satellites into orbit through the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). It has a track record of 24 successful flights. ISRO has also developed indigenous cryogenic engines, and GSLV (Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), which is capable to place two-tonne satellites in outer space India is one of the six countries in the world to demonstrate such capabilities.
Another significant achievement by the Indian Space Sector is Indian Remote Sensing and Satellite Systems (IRSS), with at least eleven satellites in orbit. The agency has achieved growth in advanced navigation, such as the NAVIC series of satellites. Remote Sensing satellites are highly applicable for disaster management support and cartographical purposes.
India has recently set up a Defence Space Agency (DSA) supported by the Defence Space Research Organisation that has the ability and mandate to degrade, destroy, disrupt, and deceive the space capability of adversaries. The Indian Space Agency has developed INSAT satellites which will facilitate communication and broadcasting across the South Asian Region.
Concerning defence and space intelligence, the Space-based electronic intelligence or ELINT from the 436 kg EMISAT (Electronic Surveillance) will add teeth to the situational awareness of the Armed Forces as it will provide the location and information of hostile radars placed at the borders. ISRO has also created a history of launching 104 satellites in one go.
India launched its first exclusive defence satellite (GSAT-7) in 2013, and it helped in marine communication and helped the Indian Navy in providing real-time inputs to Indian vessels.
It has built scramjet engines which work on the principle of using atmospheric oxygen to burn fuel in the rocket. India has its own first space-based observatory called ASTROSAT. It is the fourth agency to do so after NASA, Roscomos, and ESA.
Another achievement in the space-based sector by the nation is the development of AMSAT (It will help amateur radio operators to gain improved accuracy in their tracking and monitoring.)
