Why Isro’s Low-Budget Hangover Isn’t Fit for India’s Future Plans

In its nearly six decades of existence, the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) has gained global recognition for executing complex space missions on remarkably small budgets. This cost-effective approach has become a defining feature of India’s space program.

In 2014, Prime Minister Modi famously remarked: “A one-kilometre auto-rickshaw ride in Ahmedabad costs Rs 10, but India has reached Mars at Rs 7 per kilometer.” India’s Mangalyaan Mars mission cost just $74 million, less than the $100 million Hollywood film Gravity.

Isro’s recent Chandrayaan-3 mission costs around $75 million, which is cheaper than films like Interstellar and Adipurush.

While Isro’s cost-effective approach has won international praise, the question that arises is whether this frugality can support future missions given the rapidly evolving global space exploration landscape.

WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM

Until last year, Isro was largely focused on replicating what the space giants had done – in a more cost-effective and error-free way.

But when India successfully became the first country to complete the challenging mission of landing in the south polar region of the Moon, we grew new wings. Now we strive to become pioneers and go on the most challenging space missions.

India strives to develop own Bharatiya Antariksha station by 2035. To build a space station you need ongoing space debris researchlife in microgravity conditions and problems of the space environment.

Space stations are among the most expensive projects in history. For example, the cost of building and maintaining the International Space Station is estimated at more than $150 billion.

The Chinese space station costs much less, but still costs a staggering $8 billion. Even our own Gaganyaan missionwhich will take people to space and return them back will cost more than $1 billion.

Isro’s current annual budget of approximately $1.6 billion is significantly less compared to other major space agencies.

NASA operates with a budget in excess of $25 billion, while China’s CNSA receives more than $18 billion. These space programs are investing heavily in technologies that ensure long-term sustainability, such as reusable rockets and plans for lunar bases. If Isro wants to compete in this global arena, investments are critical to achieving your goals.

Investments made today will yield savings in the future. Take, for example, reusable rocket technology. Traditional rocket launches are like disposable items: the entire rocket is ejected in just one flight.

In contrast, reusable space launch systems are designed to launch, land, repair, and fly again with a new payload. For example, SpaceX advertises the launch of its reusable Falcon 9 rocket for less than a third of the cost of a disposable launch vehicle. This innovation has significantly reduced the cost of individual launches, which will be important when humanity sees more than 60,000 satellites in space in the very near future.

In addition, Isro needs a next-generation launch vehicle. Isro’s LVM3 is capable of launching about 8,000 kilograms into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). By comparison, China’s Long March 5 has a payload capacity of 25,000 kilograms, and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has a payload capacity of 22,800 kilograms in LEO.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

India is already working on Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), also known as SooryaThis marks a significant step towards fully reusable space launch systems. But it is necessary to quickly create NGLV to keep up with the world’s space giants, as well as work on reusable launch vehicles.

For India to remain a leader in the global space race, Isro’s low-budget, lean approach will require some adjustment. Space is not only about scientific research, but also about ensuring strategic and economic dominance. Countries that invest heavily in space technology today will become tomorrow’s leaders, reaping the benefits of space mining, space tourism and technological innovation.

Space has the potential to solve many of Earth’s most pressing problems, from energy shortages to shortages of basic materials.

Take, for example, helium-3, a potential fuel for fusion reactors. Nuclear fusion is what powers the Sun. This reaction is so powerful that with just 25 tons of helium-3, India can be powered for a year.

The moon has 1.1 million tons of helium-3. This means that if we could return helium-3 to Earth, we would have enough energy to power India for over 44,000 years. Helium-3 could potentially be the key to infinite energy.

Another example is asteroids. Asteroids are rich in precious minerals and metals critical to Earth’s economy, such as platinum, nickel, silver and gold. One NASA report estimates that the asteroid belt’s total mineral wealth could exceed $100 billion for every person on Earth. By investing in space mining technologies, India could take advantage of this wealth, ensuring resource security for centuries to come.

By 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, space could become a driving force for its economy, security and international influence. But that won’t happen without significant budgetary commitments and perhaps even the risk of a few setbacks. It will also allow us to invest more in startups, research, and be able to better pay the best people in space technology.

Isro’s frugal approach has served India well, but the future of space exploration requires more. willingness to take risks for the sake of excellence.

(This is an article written by Srijan Pal Singh. He is an author and an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad who was the policy and technology advisor to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India. He is the founder and CEO of Dr. Kalam Center and Homi Laboratory)