Economics

The overall gamut of space technology could be viewed under two categories, one, technologies like communication or imaging technologies and two, technologies required for space experimentation, planetary research, etc. The technology output is visible and quantifiable in regard to China-Japan-India, but as for other states in the region, research is an evolving process and would require special efforts to convince their politicians and citizens for sustained monitory investments.

For China and India, budgetary constraints have not been an issue for the last couple of years. The success of Chinese space programme in various fields during the last two decades clearly demonstrates the state support. China’s space budget remains relatively opaque. Various estimates put China’s spending around US$2 billion to 3 billion. Out of this, significant amount is spent on ambitious

space missions like manned space programme, lunar mission and space station. The case is reversed in the case of India. The pattern of spending is more on projects of socioeconomic relevance. At present, the value of ISRO’s overall assets is approximately US$25 billion [12]. Over a period of last 10 years, ISRO’s budget has shown steady increase and has almost doubled from 1999 to 2009. It is important to note that the ISRO spends more than 85% of its US$1 billion budget on development-related missions and only remaining 10-15% on advanced research and development, and on missions like Moon mission.

Japan’s space programme never started under any unified body. Almost for three decades, many of the organisations responsible for the developments in space arena were reporting to different ministries in the Japanese government. Naturally, for overall growth of the programme, such diverse reporting channels and different budgeting allocations were hazardous. The period 1996-2003 witnessed a major setback to Japan’s space programme because of series of failures. This had adverse impact on budgetary allotment too.

Presently, Japan also spends aroundUS$2.5 billion on space ambitions. However, in the past, their space programme witnessed some budget cuts. Now, after the establishment of a unified body called Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in October 2003, Japan’s space programme has stabilised. They have made significant investments in ISS too. South Korea spends around US$250 million, Iran around US$100 million per year and Pakistan US$10 million. Most of the other Asian states being the beginners in this field, no authentic information about their budgetary provisions are available.

The overall trend indicates that states would continue to provide necessary economic support for their space programmes and their investments are going to increase multifold in coming years. The big three from Asia have a very clear – cut roadmap for the next two decades, and no extravagant budgetary requirements are being envisaged. Their space agencies have already started earning revenue, and their space industry is expected to grow in years to come. Malaysian and South Korean ambitions are not being matched on ground with respect to their accomplishments. Therefore, political leadership in these states may not provide the requisite support for highly ambitious and long-term projects. Apart from its nuclear and missile ambitions, Iran wants to grow as a technologically advanced country, and hence, it will continue supporting its space programme. Uncertainties can take the form of significant unmanageable economic crises. Under such circumstances, states would mainly cap funding of ambitious programmes like colonisation of Moon and human space flights, but other programmes of socioeconomic importance will continue to grow or at least status quo would be maintained.