[Answered] Axiom-4 showcases emerging commercial human spaceflight technologies. Given India’s small global space market share, analyze the technological imperatives for developing such capabilities and infrastructure to accelerate its growth in the next-gen space economy.

Introduction

India’s involvement in Axiom-4 marks a pivotal step towards commercial human spaceflight. To capitalise on a booming $1 trillion global space economy, India must invest in innovation, infrastructure, and collaboration.

India’s Position in the Global Space Market

1. Current Market Share – Only 2%: India contributes merely 2% to the global space economy, despite being among the top five spacefaring nations.
   (Source: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center – IN-SPACe, 2024)
2. Projected Growth – $1 Trillion by 2040: According to Morgan Stanley, the global space economy is set to reach $1 trillion by 2040, driven by satellite internet, space tourism, and human spaceflight.

Technological Imperatives to Strengthen India’s Role

1. Human Spaceflight Expertise (Gaganyaan): The Axiom-4 mission’s inputs are vital for Gaganyaan, India’s first crewed orbital mission. Lessons from Shubhanshu Shukla’s role as pilot support safety, mission planning, and crew training.
2. Zero-Gravity Research Infrastructure: Axiom-4 enabled ISRO to conduct biological and materials science experiments, such as muscle behaviour and moong dal germination.
   Imperative: Develop India’s own space bio-labs and low-Earth orbit (LEO) testbeds.
3. Developing a Modular Indian Space Station: Shukla’s ISS experience informs India’s ambition to build an indigenous space station by 2035.
   Need: Modular architecture, life-support systems, and orbital infrastructure to support long-duration missions.
4. Autonomous Navigation and Docking Systems: Axiom-4’s complex docking with the ISS highlights the importance of autonomous spacecraft.
   Imperative: Develop indigenous avionics, AI-assisted navigation, and automated docking capabilities.

Building a Next-Gen Commercial Space Ecosystem

1.            Private Sector Participation (IN-SPACe, NSIL): The creation of IN-SPACe and NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) is fostering commercialisation. Indian startups like Skyroot, Agnikul, and Bellatrix are entering launch and propulsion markets.
2. Space Industrial Parks and Clusters: India must invest in space-specific SEZs to promote manufacturing of satellites, habitats, and reusable vehicles.
   Example: Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are proposing space-tech corridors.
3. Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs): The global shift to reusability—led by SpaceX’s Falcon 9—demands Indian innovation in RLVs. ISRO’s RLV-TD tests must evolve into operational models by 2030.
4. Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Constellations: To match competitors like Starlink and OneWeb, India must build LEO broadband constellations to monetise its spectrum and meet rural digital needs.

International Collaboration and Talent Development

1. Partnerships with Axiom Space, NASA, ESA: Collaborating on missions like Axiom-4 expands India’s access to crewed flight experience and orbital tech.
2. Skilling Next-Gen Workforce: India must integrate aerospace education, astronautics, and robotics into technical curricula and foster public-private research clusters.

Conclusion

India must transition from a cost-effective launch provider to a global innovation hub. Axiom-4 signals that with focused technology investment, India can lead in the future space economy.