The effective use of space for both civilian and military purposes requires multi-pronged management
The importance of space has been long recognized. Space assets have indeed transformed our world and the way we live. The moon is now eminently reachable. Cyber warfare using space assets, star wars and space warfare are no longer in the realm of science fiction. Our reliance on space has been increasing and the rate of increase is accelerating. There are a host of civilian and military applications that are acutely dependent on our access to space and the list is becoming longer.
Such dependence increases our vulnerabilities as well. Successful interference in our use of space could adversely impact both civilian and military requirements, and capabilities. The safeguarding of our space assets is the axiomatic responsibility of the military, but, particularly in the case of India, military capabilities largely ride piggyback on civilian space assets. Hence, an effective formal and informal system of interaction amongst the users of space assets is unavoidable.
India’s space capability is in a fairly advanced stage. However, the users and the potential users of space assets are many and their requirements are increasing. Unfortunately, money supply will always be a constraint and some form of prioritization is essential. Users will be in competition for the available funds, and an agency is needed to collate the requirements, assess feasibility of satisfying more than one customer with the same or somewhat modified product, estimate cost of the requirements and accord priorities. What should be avoided is to proportionately allot funds and capabilities without taking a view of the utility of the capability in national interest. More important, all this has to be done with the minimum of rancour and, hopefully, a plan could emerge that would satisfy all or at least most of the users. The exercise has to be repeated periodically with changing demands and technical advancements.
Many technological transformations in the use of space assets are on the cards. It will be useful if some of these advancements could be brought about with international collaboration and coordination but many more will have to be based on indigenous technology and expertise. This is another area where informed decisions will have to taken to satisfy the users. Where should the responsibility lie? Who will decide the more promising areas of research and the more significant aspects of research? Clear-cut devolution of authority, with concomitant responsibility and accountability, is needed.
Apart from better metals and alloys, higher sensitivities of sensors, and many other technological advances, the three major areas where transformations are most likely to occur in the near future are miniaturization, data processing and communications. Considerable scientific acumen has to be garnered for each of these areas individually and in their integration thereafter. The aim is to improve the products of space for increasing efficiency in our functioning and to seek more areas where space can be used to advantage.
Miniaturization implies much more than decreasing the size of satellites and the operationalization of mini, milli and micro satellites. Far more important, there is the essential requirement of manufacturing smaller and smaller sensors and associated equipment with equal if not added capability. The object must be to have the capability to launch satellites to serve the desired purpose(s) at very short notice and thereby ensure redundancy. As the cost of satellites is a function of weight, the smaller satellites should be less expensive and require smaller and cheaper launchers. It should also be possible to launch many satellites at the same time, indeed even a swarm of satellites, on the same launcher, thereby increasing redundancy still further. Progressively, it should be our endeavour to reduce the time to launch from days to hours to, hopefully, minutes. Another question that must be addressed is the operational utilization of the different classes of small satellites and the agency to authorize their launch.
Communications, including data links, are what permits the utilization of information garnered from satellites. With expansion in the number of users, the bandwidth requirements will increase. Methods will be needed to increase the bandwidth and the hunger for more bandwidth will increase rapidly as the utility of space assets manifests itself to an increasing extent. Compression techniques, the use of higher frequencies and other means to permit optimum utilization of our assets in tune with user requirements will be necessary. Which agency should be authorized to plan the future requirements, ration the bandwidth and decide on areas of research and development? Once again, such questions need continuous study and urgent answers.
Data processing is the third area of major transformation that should make the utilization of space assets more effective. So far, the predictions of Moore’s Law in terms of the progressive increase in computing power are being met and, it is opined by many, that usable Artificial Intelligence could indeed become a reality in the near to medium term. Increased computing power will immeasurably increase the utility and utilization of information accessed from space. Research and Development in this field is essential as it is already attracting considerable competition. We cannot afford to be too far behind.
Space capabilities are much too important to be given anything less than very high priority. They should be viewed as national assets and the first requirement must be to formulate a “vision for use of space”. At present, there is only an informal system for optimum utilization of space. ISRO and Dept of Space have done commendable work but, as space users and their requirements increase, it will be necessary to have an organization like a Space Commission to oversee all aspects of space and its exploitation. We must resort to a multi-disciplinary approach with representation from all major users of space.
The organization should encompass, inter alia, expertise in the realm of satellite construction, manufacture and integration of sensors, research and development, assessment of future needs, attempts at international collaboration, planning, programming, prioritization, training, education, and assessing the impact of inimical interference in our use of space. With military use of space, militarization, and weaponization of space no longer mere terms, experts will be needed to represent us in international bodies and deliberations on the inevitable sequels to “The Outer Space Treaty” and PAROS, and the like. Commercial use of space, colonization of the Moon, and the implications of use of space for National Missile Defence are other areas where domain expertise is essential.
The entire ambit of space capabilities represents a multi-agency endeavour and continuous efforts are needed to better manage the national security space enterprise. Major and many pronged initiatives are needed and we must ensure that by reasoned collaborative effort, the highly advantageous synergy is created and maintained. It will probably be necessary to nominate specific agencies to be the lead agencies for different aspects of space exploitation. Our challenge is to find ways to streamline and strengthen interagency governance of the space enterprise.
In the keynote address at the last Global Space Technology Forum Conference, it was estimated that the combined civilian and military spending for space was $50 billion in 2007. The figure related to only governmental expenditure. The actual value of space assets would be in some hundreds of billions of dollars. Private enterprise has also entered the space market in a big way. For instance, the competition for the Google Lunar X Prize is gathering. It is a competion with $30 million in prize money for the first privately funded team to send a robot to the moon, make it travel at least 500 m on the moon’s surface and transmit video images and data back to earth. The prize will probably be claimed sooner rather than later.
The interest shown by non-government agencies clearly shows the commercial potential of space. As late as December 23, 2008, Space Exploration Technologies won a NASA contract to supply 20,000 kg of cargo to the International Space Station for $1.6 billion. As the space shuttle has been retired, contracts for an additional $3.1 billion are imminent. The adventure aspect of space travel, where many space enthusiasts are willing to pay good money to merely travel to space, has been overtaken by hard commercial interests.
The commercial aspects of space and the huge profits to be made will inevitably lead to even greater competition than at present. It is also a truism that conflict always follows commerce. At the same time, the reliance of the military on space facilities in peace and even more so in war is increasing. The very promising system of Net Centric Warfare is but one aspect of the military use of space. Attempts to curb the adversary’s use of space assets can have a salutary impact in war. Offensive and defensive capabilities are needed and again, different types of expertise are required to support military needs. Programming, stipulation of protocols on use and the manner of use, and the optimum utilization of funds are other areas that have to be monitored. Such tasks cannot be left to individual services and the creation of a Space Command is overdue. The requirement has been felt for some time and it was first mooted many years ago.
Space Commission and Space Command cannot operate as mutually exclusive entities. Space Command has to be given some distinct areas of sole responsibilities but in the optimum use of space assets, no agency should be viewed as totally independent. The establishment of the two new recommended agencies will certainly make our planning and utilization of space far more effective but caution is in order. Organizations are intended to serve and not become an end unto themselves. Clear checks and balances must be introduced and ensured. Creation of organizations or their expansion as a means to provide some functionaries with the “loaves and fishes of office” must be diligently avoided.
The safeguarding of our space assets is the axiomatic responsibility of the military, but, particularly in the case of India, military capabilities largely ride piggyback on civilian space assets
The three major areas where transformations are most likely to occur in the near future are miniaturization, data processing and communications
It will be necessary to have an organization like a Space Commission to oversee all aspects of space and its exploitation. We must resort to a multi-disciplinary approach with representation from all major users of space
