Though the Indian space programme has progressed considerably in the past three decades, it is now falling far behind the Chinese, especially with regard to manned missions
The Indian space programme was initiated by the visionary leader Vikram Sarabhai. He declared that India could be second to none in terms of acquiring the latest technologies related to space and their application to solve the problems of the common man. The Indian space programme has lived up to his expectations and today we have self-reliant technologies such as the Polar Satellite launch Vehicle. We have also demonstrated how space-based assets can be put to use for improving the quality of life of common man.
The Indian space programme though initiated in 1963 with the launch of a sounding rocket, serious work on development of the large booster started only in early 70s. Thus, India had 20-year-late start compared to other nations. Still, the achievements in the last 30 years are remarkable, considering that the entire effort is indigenous and undertaken in a civilian set up.
In contrast, the Chinese space programme was initiated in 1950 by Mao Zedong for military application. He saw the threat of US missiles and wanted to create a network of anti-ballistic missiles. His primary objective was to develop the missiles for defence. looking back, China was the first country to have use rockets (in fireworks) back in 600AD. later they were used as weapons against the Mongolians. It is reported that one of the early inventers had fired a large number of rockets tied to his chair with the intention of flying out to space. This attempt failed because the rockets exploded and killed him and several other courtiers. Perhaps this is what motivated the Chinese leadership which demanded, in addition to creating a capability for missiles for defence, efforts should be mounted on human space flights.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Chinese focussed on developing different types of missiles. In the initial period, there was assistance from Russia but it was the strong will of Chairman Mao that ensured that China made progress on the missile front. He declared, “Not only do we need more airplanes and artillery pieces, we also need the atomic bomb in this world today to avoid being bullied, we cannot be without it.” So the development of atomic weapons and delivery systems became a priority.
After the launch of mankind’s first artificial satellite Sputnik on October 4, 1957, Mao decided to make China equal to the other superpowers. He implemented projects with the aim of placing satellites in the orbit by 1959. The goal was to be achieved in three phases: Developing sounding rockets first, launching small satellites and launching large satellites. True to this dictum, the Chinese implemented this plan and now they have capability to take satellites into the orbit as well.
By 1970, China had established the launch capability of orbiting satellites around the earth. This is the time when India’s first satellite launch vehicle was on the drawing board, leading to a successful mission only in 1980. Parallely, the Chinese programme for development of the manned capsule was adopted in 1971.
On the 50th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in 1999, the Shenzhou-1 Spacecraft was launched on-board the long March 2F and recovered after a flight of 22 hours. Four years later, China became the third country with a successful space programme to send an astronaut into space and bring him back safely. The Shenzhou-5 on October 2003, carrying an astronaut and staying for more than 21 hours, was a major success. Since then, China has had five successful manned missions where 10 Tachonauts have travelled to space including two women. In these missions, they have carried out extra-vehicular and docking trials.
Due to the potential of using the space technology for war, China was on the embargo list for a long time and not able to get technology from the Western world. This accelerated its internal effort. The net result is that today China has got a lead position in launching satellites in the Asia-Pacific region and the upper-hand in the manned mission.
The Chinese programme is focused, and quite distinct from the Indian programme. India has been concentrating on the peaceful application of the spacecraft as well as launch vehicle technology whereas China has emphasised on integrated development of missiles and space launch vehicles. The China Aerospace Industry Corporation was established to carry out both civilian and military programmes for missiles, satellitebuilding and satellite-launching.
In India, the missiles and aircraft programmes are organised independent of the Indian Space Research Organisation by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Hindustan Aircraft limited. The combined strength of these organisations could perhaps benefit the space programme overall by allowing for knowledge and experience sharing, preventing duplication of efforts and achieving higher efficiencies in the days to come.
But the distinct difference between the Indian and Chinese programmes is the manned space mission of the latter. In this, the Chinese are at least 10 years ahead of India. A manned space mission was also planned by India but it has been in cold storage for various reasons. The net result is that though in 2005 India declared that it was on in par with China in almost all respects except in the manned space mission, today the country is lagging far behind.
In the global scenario, the European countries are concentrating on commercial launches of communication satellites in which they have been successful. The US space programme is virtually standstill for the last five years for want of policy decisions and lack of adequate funding. The Russian programme also is not progressing much because of the lack of funding. As a result, China is emerging as the global power in space. India also had the same opportunity, but the lack of initiatives and imaginative programmes let us down.
It is not that India does not have the ideas; it is not that we do not have the technical capability; it is not that we do not have right kind of man power, but at this moment it is the lack of visionary leadership which is affecting the Indian space programme. The Chinese programme too had a bad patch. After the death of Mao in 1976, the rival group of Deng Xiaoping did not appreciate the efforts put into the satellite launch vehicle programme for almost 10 years, but later realised the importance of scientific exploration of outer space. The whole programme was revived in 1993.
If India wakes up and puts its best foot forward with its large resource of highly talented personnel, well-equipped laboratories and accumulated knowledge, it can still emerge as the global power in space exploration and in providing space-based services.
(The writer is former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation)