As nations increasingly depend on space-based resources, the significance of space in potential global conflicts is expected to rise.
Space Diplomacy is becoming more crucial as nations endeavour to create principles and rules that regulate the military usage of space-based resources.
Cooperation initiatives, such as commercial trade, combined research and development, and shared use of space-based resources, can aid in the establishment of mutual trust, advancement of transparency, and reduction of misunderstandings.
This was all discussed in the very first panel discussion of India’s first International Defence and Space conference and expo on 27th of April at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
Why is Space Diplomacy Important?
Space diplomacy is a natural follow through to exploring space as it entails major issues like monopoly of space travel and environmental fears of space pollution. Space diplomacy addresses this with tackling these issues as officials, environmental activists, private companies and scientists come together for both private and national space exploration to prosper.
Dr P.K Jain, Director PMAD, IN-SPACe talked about how space diplomacy provides access to global tech & global fund and how in the current scenario ISRO has been doing all the heavy lifting with handling all the space activities till a certain period and how the space industry was like a vendor to ISRO.
He also talked about how ISRO has more than 275 MoU’s with 60 plus countries and had several joint satellite projects, NISAR being a good example which is an earth observing mission between NASA and ISRO.
He emphasised in taking the work done by ISRO to the next level, for that participation of Industry is very necessary whose enabling mechanism is already in place.
Dr Chaitanya Giri, Associate Professor, Flame University talked about how the entire Indian Space program has been civilian oriented first and defence later and while other country space programs had it the other way around.
Coexistence of Space & Defence
A lot of patch up has to be done if Indian Defence is anticipating the emergence of any hot conflict zones and protracted wars like the situation in Ukraine. He raised an important question on fidelity of the current systems.
The Space program needs partners that can be relied upon at times of crisis. It has to be two way, where we can rely upon them and vice versa. Our industry ecosystem has to have the wherewith all to provide what they need in their times of crisis.
Air Commodore Terry Van Haren DSM, Managing Director, LeoLabs Australia communicated about how diplomacy, cooperation and collaboration are very important and how important it is for the commercial and military aspect of the space industry needs to coexist and work together.
He talked about how the defence practitioners and industry stakeholders need to work together to assess the requisite industrialised solutions in space and counter space capabilities.
International cooperation is the key to successful space operations and a key to maintaining safety in space.
