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India’s EO satellites in the Indo-Pacific
The Quad has agreed to launch a satellite-based maritime security initiative to curb illegal fishing by China. India is a global leader in satellite launches....
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Acknowledging Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: What’s Next?
A slew of measures in the US have attempted to destigmatise the sighting of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), which may go a long way in unravelling the truth behind their long-standing mystery. It has been nearly 120 years since the advent of fixed-wing flight. All those who have
Why Was Gagarin ‘Cancelled’?
The Russian-Ukrainian war and the consequent resurgence of the Cold War have hit space diplomacy between the US and Russia. My readers at Science India will be familiar with a recent social media phenomenon known as ‘cancellation.’ It is nothing but contempt or boycott of entities and individuals en
Achilles Heels of India’s R&D: Import Dependency of Scientific Instruments
Innovation is the key to India’s civilizational well-being and economic growth, as underscored by the pandemic, and most recently, by the Russia-Ukraine War. The Russia-Ukraine War of 2022 has exposed several fault lines within the global comity of nations. The war is a calamity on the
As Geopolitical Blocs Vie for Primacy in Space, the History of Colonization Looms Large
Lessons learned from the Age of Discovery can help nations navigate the new space age. We are in the midst of a historical recurrence — a moment in which events echo a pattern from the past. With the burgeoning of the space economy and the scheduling of human-crewed missions to
Terror of Dragon will not obstruct Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is a much-loved governmental agency because it is a source of inspiration and pride, just like the Indian armed forces. Unlike NASA, which has an official China Exclusion Policy, ISRO does not have any. But given geopolitical circumstances, ISRO has seldom dealt with
India’s Deep Ocean Mission for Innovation
In 2021, India expedited budgetary clearances to activate its Deep Ocean Mission. Most mission projects are currently confined to the network of institutions operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. To truly shine, they must follow the model of developed economies where ocean innovation clusters are public-private partnerships, to
India’s Deep Ocean Mission for innovation
In 2021, India expedited budgetary clearances to activate its Deep Ocean Mission. Most mission projects are currently confined to the network of institutions operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. To truly shine, they must follow the model of developed economies where ocean innovation clusters are public-private partnerships, to
UAE: Aerotropolis to Astropolis
After successfully developing Dubai and Abu Dhabi as aerotropoli or cities around an aviation hub the United Arab Emirates aims to become an astropolis, a hub of space tourism and human spaceflight. There is ample scope for UAE to cooperate on this with India, which is also its comprehensive strategic
The Quad’s Planetary Goals
The highly space-capable Quad powers have agreed to share their respective satellite datasets for monitoring climate change, disasters and the use of natural resources. With global security encompassing armed confrontation to environmental damage, the Quad’s planetary collaboration will go a long way in protecting the green and blue
Automotive Industry Zooming into Space
The automotive industry’s R&D expertise is of vital interest to the fast-commercialising global space economy. And it isn’t limited to the Japanese alone. In June 2021, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), collaborating with Honda Research and Development Company, initiated an extraordinary feasibility study to
A Decade of Autonomy in Space
As the private or autonomous space industry becomes more developed, an interesting phenomena is occurring. The public sector which runs space programmes has lagged behind, but also profits from the recent success of private space companies are limited to direct stakeholders. After a decade of private investment, it is worth