India Launches a Spacecraft to Study the Sun
TimeAPR 2023
India Launches First Solar Mission Days After Historic Moon Landing
Image copyright: Indian Space Research Organization
The Spin
Narrative A
These latest successful developments are strong indications that India is on its way to overtake Russia as a space power, especially after the Luna-25 mission became yet another Russian exploration mission to end in failure. Its rising space program is now set to compete with the US and China to produce space technology, representing — along with Beijing — advancement in the global south.
Narrative B
These achievements indeed indicate that India's space industry can produce advanced systems at a reasonable cost, but that alone will not make the country an advanced industrial nation, as has been touted by the government. If India really wants to become an industrial power, then it must reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as well as develop its transport infrastructure.