India’s Space Start-Ups Poised To Challenge Global Giants

The global space race is undergoing a transformation at a pace unimaginable a decade ago. Space exploration is no longer the exclusive preserve of Governments and national agencies. It is being reshaped by private enterprise, commercial capital and rapid technological innovation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call during his interaction with the founders of 20 space start-ups on National Space Day for India to build a global aura around its private space sector comes at the right moment.

The next phase of India’s space journey must rest not merely on national prestige but on a genuine commercial space ecosystem capable of competing with the world’s best.

This transformation is most visible in the United States, where NASA no longer holds a monopoly over access to space. Private companies have become dominant forces in launch technology, satellite systems, reusable rockets and space-based communications.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has redefined what private enterprise can achieve beyond the atmosphere. The lesson is clear: the future of space will belong as much to nimble companies as to traditional state agencies.

This matters because space technology is becoming the backbone of everyday life. Satellites underpin navigation, broadcasting, disaster response, weather forecasting and strategic communication. The next leap is wireless, satellite-delivered connectivity that reduces reliance on vast physical cabling networks stretching across lakhs of kilometres.

Starlink has demonstrated that high-speed connectivity can be beamed from orbit, particularly to remote terrain where laying conventional infrastructure is costly or impractical.

The applications extend well beyond communication. Agriculture, India’s most vital sector, stands to gain enormously. Satellite imagery and weather data can help farmers track crop health, assess soil and moisture conditions, and anticipate adverse weather before it strikes.

Better forecasting of rainfall and extreme weather events can sharpen agricultural planning and cut losses. Space-based data can equally support livestock and dairy management, environmental monitoring, water conservation and disaster preparedness. Modi himself urged start-up founders to explore these opportunities further.

India embarks on this new era with a strong foundation. ISRO has repeatedly shown that extraordinary achievement does not require extravagant spending. Its reputation for delivering ambitious missions at remarkably low cost has earned global respect.

Chandrayaan-3’s successful lunar landing, commemorated each year on National Space Day, proved India’s technological maturity and its capacity for missions of global significance. Yet Government achievement alone cannot sustain leadership in a commercial space economy.

ISRO has laid the foundation, but the baton must now be shared with private enterprise. ISRO should continue to anchor frontier research and strategic missions, while private players bring speed, capital, commercial discipline and appetite for risk that Government institutions cannot always match.

Early signs are encouraging. Skyroot Aerospace, India’s first space-tech unicorn, has already flown the country’s first privately built rocket into orbit. Its founders speak of scaling from one launch a month to one a week and eventually several a day.

Alongside it, a growing cluster of firms spanning launch services, satellites, earth observation and space situational awareness is attracting serious investment and international contracts.

One start-up reportedly secured eight launch contracts within a month of its debut flight. India’s deepest asset remains its scientific and engineering talent. There is now a real opportunity to draw back Indian-origin professionals who built careers abroad.

Unlike the structured recruitment pathways of public institutions, private companies can hire laterally, reward niche expertise and assemble multidisciplinary teams quickly. This flexibility could prove decisive in the global contest for talent.

None of this will succeed without policy stability. Investors committing large sums to rockets and satellites need confidence that rules will not shift arbitrarily. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on consistency and trust is well placed.

A predictable regulatory environment and reliable access to infrastructure will unlock entrepreneurial risk-taking more effectively than rhetoric. India has proven scientific capability, cost competitiveness, deep talent and a maturing entrepreneurial culture. The space juggernaut has begun to move, and the momentum is unmistakable.

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China’s Zhuque-3-Y2 Makes History With Successful Land-Based Rocket Recovery

China has achieved a historic milestone in its reusable rocket program with the successful launch and recovery of the Zhuque-3 Y2. The rocket lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwest China on 19 August 2026 at 7:35 a.m. Beijing Time.

The Zhuque-3 Y2 placed the Honghu-03 satellite into orbit before its first stage began its controlled return to Earth. Around eight minutes later, at 7:43 a.m., the booster successfully landed at the designated site in Minqin County, Gansu.

This marked China’s first successful land recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster using deployable landing legs.

The booster executed a series of manoeuvres during its descent. It first adopted a high-altitude stance before performing powered deceleration during re-entry. Aerodynamic controls were employed to steer the stage towards the landing zone. A final engine burn slowed the booster further, and the landing legs deployed to ensure a vertical touchdown at the designated site.

This was LandSpace’s second attempt at recovery. The first, in December 2025, reached orbit but failed during the final landing phase. The success of the Zhuque-3 Y2 represents a major breakthrough for China’s commercial space sector, demonstrating a different approach to recovery compared to the Long March-10B, which had earlier used a net-capture system at sea.

The achievement highlights China’s growing capabilities in reusable rocket technology. Reusable boosters can dramatically reduce launch costs and enable more frequent missions by eliminating the need to discard expensive rocket stages after each flight. LandSpace has announced plans to reuse the Zhuque-3 booster up to 20 times, with the goal of reusing a recovered stage within six months.

This success places China firmly in the global race for reusable rockets, alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin. SpaceX pioneered orbital-class booster recovery in 2015, while Blue Origin followed with its New Glenn in 2025. The Zhuque-3 Y2’s land recovery demonstrates China’s determination to match and eventually rival these achievements.

The breakthrough also intensifies competition in the international space industry, as nations and private companies strive to make access to space cheaper and more routine. For China, this success strengthens its position in the commercial launch market and supports its broader ambitions in space exploration.

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Pakistan Names It's Moon Rover Jinnah-1; To Launch On China’s Chang’e-8 Mission in 2029

Pakistan has officially entered the global lunar race with its first rover, Jinnah-1, scheduled to launch aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission in 2029.

The 35 kg rover will explore the Moon’s south pole, studying geology, plasma, and radiation, while also testing technologies for future human activity.

Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announced the rover’s name at a ceremony in Islamabad. The name was chosen through a nationwide competition that attracted around 4,000 entries.

Seven participants had independently suggested “Jinnah-1,” and the final winner was selected via a lucky draw. The winning entry came from 17-year-old Tayyab Karim of Bahawalnagar, who proposed naming the rover after Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The choice symbolises Pakistan’s resolve, progress, and aspirations in space exploration.

Jinnah-1 will be part of China’s Chang’e-8 mission, which is itself a critical step in Beijing’s long-term lunar program. Chang’e-8 is expected to test advanced technologies such as using lunar Regolith for 3D printing, which could support future construction of lunar bases.

Pakistan’s participation marks its first direct involvement in lunar science and places SUPARCO within a broader international effort to explore the Moon’s south polar region.

The rover is being developed by Pakistani engineers and is expected to weigh approximately 35 kg. It will carry instruments including a Terrain Testing Instrument to analyse lunar soil, radiation sensors, and plasma detectors.

These tools will allow Jinnah-1 to study the Moon’s surface composition, map terrain, and conduct experiments relevant to future exploration. Pakistani specialists are expected to operate the rover once it is delivered to the lunar surface by China’s lander.

The south pole of the Moon has become a focal point of global exploration due to its permanently shadowed craters, which may contain deposits of water ice. Such resources could be vital for sustaining astronauts and producing fuel and oxygen for long-term missions.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in this region in August 2023, while Russia’s Luna-25 failed in its attempt.

NASA’s Artemis program also targets the south pole for future crewed missions. Pakistan’s entry with Jinnah-1 highlights the growing competition and collaboration in this strategically important area.

SUPARCO first announced its collaboration with China’s Chang’e-8 mission in 2024, describing it as a major milestone for Pakistan’s space program.

The mission is expected to provide Pakistani engineers with valuable experience in operating an indigenous rover on the lunar surface. It also represents Pakistan’s ambition to expand its scientific horizons and contribute to international space research.

The “-1” designation in Jinnah-1 suggests the possibility of future Pakistani lunar missions, marking this as the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s space journey. For Pakistan, the mission is not only a technological milestone but also a symbolic step in asserting its presence in the global space race.

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Chinese Long March 7A Rocket Explodes Mid‑Air, Strategic Satellite Lost

China’s Long March-7A rocket exploded just 85 seconds after liftoff from Hainan, destroying the ChinaSat‑4B satellite intended for strategic surveillance of the Indian Ocean Region.

The failure marks only the second loss in the rocket’s history and raises serious questions about China’s space ambitions and military surveillance plans.

The Long March-7A lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island at 8:02 pm local time. Initial ascent appeared normal, but within 85 seconds the rocket erupted into a massive fireball, scattering debris over the South China Sea. Both the rocket and its payload were completely destroyed before reaching orbit.

The payload, the Zhongxing‑4B (ChinaSat‑4B) satellite, was a high‑capacity communications and surveillance platform.

It was designed to provide radio, television, data services, and strategic coverage of the Indian Ocean Region, an area of growing geopolitical competition. Its destruction represents a significant setback for Beijing’s military‑civilian dual‑use satellite program.

This was the Long March-7A’s 18th mission. The rocket had previously failed only once, during its maiden flight in 2020, before establishing a record of successful launches from 2021 onwards. It is a medium‑lift vehicle capable of carrying up to seven tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit, making it a cornerstone of China’s satellite deployment strategy.

Chinese state media confirmed the failure three hours after the incident, describing it as an “anomaly during flight.” Social media footage showed the rocket breaking apart mid‑air, but videos from private accounts were quickly removed or restricted on platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu. Official coverage was muted, reflecting Beijing’s sensitivity to setbacks in its space program.

Analysts note that the explosion occurred during the joint burn phase, when the rocket’s YF‑100 engines operate under maximum stress. This propulsion system is shared across China’s modern launch fleet, including the Long March 5, which is scheduled to carry the Chang’e‑7 lunar mission. The failure therefore has wider implications, potentially delaying other high‑priority launches.

The loss of ChinaSat‑4B undermines China’s surveillance ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region. The satellite was expected to enhance Beijing’s ability to monitor maritime traffic, naval deployments, and communications across a theatre where India, the United States, and regional powers are expanding their presence. Its destruction leaves a gap in China’s strategic coverage at a time of heightened competition.

Experts suggest the setback could reverberate through China’s space program depending on whether the fault lies in the Long March-7A design or in shared systems. If the issue is systemic, it could affect multiple rocket families and delay missions supporting the Tiangong space station and lunar exploration.

Despite the failure, China remains committed to its long‑term goal of becoming a global leader in space science by 2050. However, the incident highlights the risks inherent in ambitious launch schedules and the challenges of maintaining reliability across a growing fleet of rockets.

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US And China Clash In Race To Moon’s South Pole Over Water Ice

The United States and China are locked in a high-stakes race to the Moon’s south pole, with both nations targeting water ice as the key to sustaining future lunar settlements. China’s Chang’e‑7 mission, launching in August 2026, is widely seen as more technically viable than NASA’s delayed 2028 timeline, giving Beijing a potential edge in landing astronauts by 2030.

The United States and China are entering a new phase of competition in space exploration, with the Moon’s south pole emerging as the focal point. Scientists believe this region contains water ice, a resource that could be vital for sustaining extra-terrestrial settlements by providing drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel. Both nations are accelerating robotic missions to this treacherous terrain, hoping to secure strategic advantage.

China has already demonstrated significant progress. Following the success of Chang’e‑6 in 2024, which returned samples from the Moon’s far side, Beijing is now preparing to launch the Chang’e‑7 mission in August 2026.

This ambitious mission will deploy four robotic vehicles — an orbiter, lander, rover, and a mobile hopper — to Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole. The hopper is designed to leap into permanently shadowed regions where temperatures plunge to −173°C, enabling direct analysis of water ice deposits that may have been preserved since the solar system’s formation. The mission carries 21 scientific payloads, including six international instruments, underscoring China’s growing role as a global space power.

In contrast, the United States is relying heavily on private companies to deliver its lunar ambitions. NASA has funded Astrobotic Technology to develop the Griffin lander, scheduled for delivery to the lunar south pole in late 2026.

This mission will attempt to navigate the pole’s hazardous terrain, but the US will not be able to conduct drilling and water ice analysis until at least 2027. NASA is also contributing its Neutron Spectrometer System to the LUPEX mission led by Japan and India, planned for 2028, which will further investigate hydrogen concentrations beneath the lunar surface.

The strategic importance of water ice cannot be overstated. If successfully located in sufficient quantities, it could dramatically reduce the cost and time required to transport water from Earth.

This would facilitate the establishment of a permanent human base on the Moon, enabling long-term activities and serving as a refuelling station for deeper missions to Mars and beyond.

Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of Chang’e‑7, emphasised in a 2025 interview that lunar water ice could be electrolysed into hydrogen and oxygen, transforming the Moon into a launchpad for interplanetary exploration.

China’s broader ambitions are clear. President Xi Jinping has described space exploration as an “eternal dream,” and Beijing aims to become the second nation after the US to land humans on the Moon.

Its target of a crewed lunar landing by 2030 appears increasingly realistic given its recent successes in navigation, propulsion, and sensing technologies. The country also plans to establish a permanent lunar settlement by 2040, supported by its Tiangong space station and extensive investment in space infrastructure.

The United States, meanwhile, faces mounting challenges. NASA’s proposed timeline to land astronauts by 2028 has been repeatedly delayed due to engineering and technological hurdles. Lawmakers are concerned about the shifting schedule and the difficulty of landing near the uncharted south pole. Experts now argue that China’s path to a Moon landing by 2030 is more viable, raising geopolitical concerns in Washington about losing leadership in space exploration.

The race to the lunar south pole is not merely scientific but deeply strategic. Control over water ice resources could determine which nation establishes the first sustainable human presence on the Moon, shaping the future of exploration and geopolitical influence in space.

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India’s Bharatiya Antariksha Station To Challenge China’s Space Supremacy By 2035

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement in Australia that India will build its own space station has placed the spotlight firmly on one of ISRO’s most ambitious undertakings, Zee News reported.

The Bharatiya Antariksha Station, or BAS, is designed to elevate India into the select league of nations with permanent human presence in orbit, countering China’s dominance and filling the gap left by the eventual retirement of the International Space Station.

At present, only two space stations are operational worldwide. The ISS, a multinational collaboration involving the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada, is nearing the end of its service life around 2030.

China’s Tiangong, operated solely by Beijing, has already become a symbol of its growing space power. Earlier Soviet and American stations from the 1970s are long defunct. India’s entry with BAS is intended to ensure it does not remain dependent on others for long-duration space missions.

ISRO has confirmed that the Bharatiya Antariksha Station will be modular, built in phases rather than as a single monolithic structure. The first module, BAS‑01, has already been unveiled. It resembles a cylindrical capsule with a docking port, enabling spacecraft and future modules to connect in orbit. Scheduled for launch in 2028 aboard the Launch Vehicle Mark‑3, BAS‑01 will serve as the foundation for the entire station.

The first module will weigh 10 tonnes and cost ₹1,763 crore. It will carry a life support system to provide oxygen, recycle water, and store food. Solar panels will generate electricity, while advanced thermal management systems will protect astronauts and equipment from extreme temperatures ranging from 120 degrees Celsius in sunlight to minus 150 degrees Celsius in shadow.

Between 2029 and 2031, ISRO will add BAS‑02 and BAS‑03. BAS‑02 will be the habitation module, fitted with beds, a kitchen, gym and bathroom, allowing astronauts to stay for three to six months. BAS‑03 will be the research laboratory, enabling experiments in medicine, materials science and biology. Between 2032 and 2035, BAS‑04 will be launched as the logistics module, storing food, water, fuel and spare parts. BAS‑05 will serve as an additional module, either expanding laboratory capacity or boosting power generation.

By 2035, the complete five‑module station will weigh 52 tonnes and host three to six astronauts at a time. It will be India’s first permanent orbital outpost, designed to support long‑term scientific research and strategic applications.

Australia has emerged as a key partner in this endeavour. During Modi’s visit, both nations agreed to cooperate on Gaganyaan and BAS missions. Australia’s Cocos Island will play a vital role in tracking launches, while its navy will assist in rescue operations in case of emergency ocean landings. Joint work on space debris monitoring and tracking has also been confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Other nations have reaped immense benefits from their space stations. Russia maintained continuous human presence through Mir and the ISS, strengthening its long‑duration mission expertise.

The United States leveraged the ISS to expand cooperation with over 15 countries, catalysing the rise of private companies like SpaceX and fuelling a $200 billion space economy. China has used Tiangong to conduct experiments with 17 nations and is preparing for a 2030 lunar mission.

The ISS alone has produced over 3,000 experiments, leading to new drugs, stronger alloys, and technologies like water recycling and air purification now used on Earth. It has created more than 400,000 jobs and generated economic benefits exceeding $100 billion.

India stands to gain significantly from BAS. The station will accelerate high‑tech job creation, boost startups and strengthen the domestic space industry. As a global pharmaceutical hub, India will be able to conduct research into medicines for tuberculosis, diabetes and other diseases under unique space conditions.

It will also enhance monitoring of agriculture, weather, climate and disasters, directly aiding farmers and administrators. Beyond science and economics, the project will inspire young Indians to pursue careers in science and engineering, reinforcing national self‑reliance.

The strategic dimension is equally critical. Modern warfare depends heavily on satellites for navigation, communication, missile warning and drone operations. The United States, Russia and China are already developing anti‑satellite weapons and space defence technologies. China demonstrated its capability in 2007 by destroying a weather satellite. India, surrounded by neighbours increasing their space cooperation, must keep pace.

Technologies developed for BAS, such as docking systems, robotic arms, in‑orbit satellite repair and long‑duration human spaceflight, will strengthen India’s space security. India has already shown its capability by destroying a low‑orbit microsatellite in 2019. Achieving parity in space will be vital for future security, technological independence and global power balance.

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China Achieves First Sea-Based Recovery of Long March 10B Orbital Rocket Booster

China has achieved its first successful controlled recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster with the Long March 10B, using a pioneering sea-based net capture system.

This breakthrough places China alongside the United States in reusable rocket technology and marks a major step toward lowering launch costs and supporting future lunar missions.

The Long March 10B rocket lifted off from the Hainan commercial space launch site at 12:15 p.m. local time. About six minutes after stage separation, the booster returned vertically and was successfully recovered on an offshore platform. This marked China’s first retrieval of an orbital-class rocket booster, a milestone in its decade-long effort to develop reusable launch systems.

The rocket was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and is capable of carrying 16 tonnes to low-Earth orbit in reusable configuration. Standing approximately 63 metres tall and five metres in diameter, it has a lift-off thrust of about 890 tonnes and a lift-off mass of 760 tonnes. The maiden flight also successfully placed its payload into orbit, confirming the reliability of the system.

Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which lands autonomously on deployable legs on pads or drone ships, the Long March 10B employed a net-and-hook capture system mounted on a sea platform. Engineers explained that net-based recovery simplifies the rocket’s onboard structure, reduces weight, and increases payload capacity.

It also provides greater tolerance for landing deviations, effectively enlarging the capture window. The recovery vessel, named Linghang Zhe (“Navigator”), was equipped with hydraulic damping and LiDAR tracking to absorb the rocket’s kinetic energy and ensure precise capture.

This achievement comes more than a decade after SpaceX’s first orbital booster recovery in 2015 and Blue Origin’s New Glenn landing in 2025. SpaceX now launches Falcon 9 rockets about 150 times annually, reusing boosters dozens of times.

China’s success demonstrates its determination to break U.S. dominance in reusable launch systems and signals its entry into the elite group of nations capable of orbital-class booster recovery.

Shares of Chinese aerospace firms surged following the announcement, with China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications hitting daily trading limits. The breakthrough is expected to accelerate China’s commercial satellite deployment, particularly for its expanding low-Earth orbit constellations, and reduce launch costs significantly.

Private Chinese firms such as LandSpace have also attempted reusable rocket recoveries but failed in their final landing stages. The Long March 10B’s success provides valuable data for both state and private players, strengthening China’s competitive position in the global space race.

The Long March 10 family is being developed for China’s crewed lunar missions planned before 2030. The technologies validated in this test will directly support the lunar programme, with the booster stage scheduled for reuse in another launch by the end of 2026. This positions China to accelerate its ambitions for sustainable, cost-effective space exploration.

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China Launches Pakistani Satellite; Expands Space Alliance With Pakistan Through Astronaut Training

China has successfully launched Pakistan’s PRSC‑EO3 satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province on Saturday night.

The launch took place at 8:15 p.m. Beijing time, with the satellite carried into orbit by a Long March‑6 rocket. According to China’s state‑run Xinhua news agency, the satellite entered its planned orbit without issue.

This marks the fourth Pakistani satellite placed into orbit by China since last year, underscoring the deepening of their space cooperation. Three Pakistani satellites were launched in 2025, and the latest addition further broadens the scope of the all‑weather alliance between the two countries into the space domain.

In parallel with satellite cooperation, Pakistan has also taken steps towards human spaceflight collaboration with China. Two Pakistani astronauts arrived in Beijing on 24 April to begin astronaut training.

They joined the Astronaut Centre of China on Friday to train alongside their Chinese counterparts. The China Manned Space Agency confirmed that upon completing the required training and passing assessments, one of the two will participate in a space mission as a payload specialist.

This individual will become the first foreign astronaut to board China’s Tiangong space station, which is currently in orbit.

These developments highlight the expanding partnership between China and Pakistan, extending beyond trade, finance, and security into advanced space exploration and human spaceflight.

The launch of PRSC‑EO3 and the training of Pakistani astronauts represent significant milestones in the bilateral relationship, signalling a new phase of cooperation in high‑technology domains.

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India And U.S. Forge Deeper Space Partnership Amid Expanding Strategic Rivalries

India and the United States are intensifying cooperation in space as global competition increasingly extends beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Both nations view space as a strategic frontier vital to economic and security interests.

U.S. Space Force General Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), reinforced this message during his March 2026 visit to India. His engagements included meetings with government, military and industry leaders, as well as participation in the Raisina Dialogue, one of the Indo-Pacific’s leading geopolitical forums.

Whiting’s trip underscored the growing importance of New Delhi–Washington collaboration in space, a domain underpinning military operations, global communications and commerce. He noted that space is simultaneously an arena of competition and cooperation, reflecting broader dynamics among great powers.

Space is evolving from a civil and scientific pursuit into a contested strategic environment. Satellites are now indispensable for intelligence, navigation, missile warning and targeting, capabilities that directly influence outcomes on Earth.

In the Indo-Pacific, concerns about China’s expanding space capabilities are prominent. Ahead of the Raisina Dialogue, Whiting emphasised to the U.S.-based Space Force Association that space is foundational to ensuring U.S. forces are positioned to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open for commerce.

During his visit, Whiting met Indian military leaders including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. Discussions centred on integrating space into joint operations, with potential joint exercises involving space-based capabilities. This reflects a shift toward treating space as an operational domain alongside land, sea, air and cyber.

The meetings built upon the nations’ 10-year defence framework agreement signed in 2025, which seeks to deepen interoperability and cooperation across multiple areas, including space. Whiting highlighted that space is explicitly identified as a priority within this framework.

Commercial partnerships were also a focus. At a roundtable hosted by the Indian Space Association, Whiting and industry leaders explored ways to integrate defence industrial bases and secure reliable access to space. Private companies are increasingly central to satellite manufacturing, launch services and data analytics, blurring distinctions between civil, military and commercial activity.

Both nations are investing heavily in domestic space capabilities. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is pursuing a human spaceflight mission planned for 2027, which would make India the fourth country to independently launch astronauts into orbit.

Whiting’s visit to ISRO included discussions on operationalising a space situational awareness data-sharing agreement with USSPACECOM. Such agreements are vital for transparency and safety as Earth’s orbit becomes more crowded and contested. Thousands of satellites operated by governments, companies and academic institutions raise risks of collisions, debris and hostile actions.

Whiting stressed that responsible behaviour in space is a cornerstone of U.S. policy, citing the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and emphasising the importance of modelling professional and safe conduct.

Cooperation is essential to stability in space while deterring adversaries. Whiting noted that partnerships with nations like India are a strength for the United States. Shared data, coordinated policies and interoperable systems are increasingly necessary to maintain awareness and resilience.

For India, closer alignment with the U.S. offers both strategic and economic benefits. It enhances access to advanced technologies and bolsters India’s standing as a major spacefaring nation.

India is a key U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific, a region central to U.S. defence strategy and global trade. Whiting pointed to shared democratic values as the foundation of the relationship, noting a confluence of interests in maintaining a free and open region.

The stakes are considerable. Space-based capabilities underpin modern life, from navigation and weather forecasting to financial systems and communications, yet they remain vulnerable to disruption.

In this environment, cooperation among like-minded nations may prove as important as competition. Whiting concluded that the United States has a rich network of partners and allies with whom it operates in space, reinforcing the value of collaboration in an increasingly contested domain.

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India Launches Heaviest Satellite Ever, Intensifying Global Space Race

India's space agency, ISRO, has marked a ground breaking achievement by launching its heaviest satellite ever from Indian soil. On Wednesday, the LVM-3-M6 rocket successfully deployed the AST SpaceMobile communications satellite, weighing 6,100 kilograms (13,448 pounds), into low-Earth orbit.

This mission underscores India's rapidly advancing prowess in space technology and its emergence as a key player in the global satellite launch market.

The satellite, known as BlueBird Block-2 and owned by the American firm AST SpaceMobile, represents a significant payload for ISRO's reliable LVM-3 vehicle. A modified version of the rocket enabled this record-breaking lift, demonstrating enhanced capabilities for handling substantial masses. 

This success highlights ISRO's engineering ingenuity and its focus on cost-effective solutions that rival established space powers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as a "significant stride" for India's space sector. In a post on X, he described it as a "proud milestone in India’s space journey," emphasising the placement of the heaviest-ever satellite from Indian territory into its precise orbit. His words reflect national pride and signal India's ambitions in commercial space ventures.

A significant stride in India’s space sector…

The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, the spacecraft of USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey.

It strengthens… pic.twitter.com/AH6aJAyOhi

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2025

This feat bolsters India's position in the burgeoning commercial satellite industry. As demand surges for satellite-based mobile broadband and communication services, ISRO's proven track record positions it as an attractive launch partner. The AST SpaceMobile project, aimed at delivering connectivity via space, exemplifies the innovative missions India can now support.

ISRO's cost-efficiency has long been a cornerstone of its strategy, allowing it to offer affordable launch services without compromising reliability. This approach has drawn international clients, including from the United States, fostering strategic partnerships. The LVM-3-M6 mission further cements India's reputation as an "Eastern powerhouse" in space.

Looking ahead, this launch paves the way for more ambitious endeavours. ISRO is gearing up for uncrewed orbital missions and its inaugural human spaceflight, Gaganyaan, targeted for 2027. The ability to manage heavy payloads like BlueBird Block-2 is crucial for these next steps, building essential infrastructure.

Prime Minister Modi has also outlined bolder visions, including sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Such plans demand robust heavy-lift capabilities, which this mission validates. It signals a new era where India transitions from cost-conscious launcher to comprehensive space exploration leader.

ISRO excels globally through cost-effectiveness, delivering missions at under 10% of rivals' prices via indigenous tech and efficient engineering, ideal for commercial payloads. Its LVM-3 rocket's perfect success rate, proven by launches like BlueBird Block-2, builds trust through meticulous testing.

The global space race intensifies with each such milestone, and India's role grows ever more pivotal. By mastering heavy satellite deployments, ISRO not only enhances national security and communication networks but also contributes to worldwide connectivity goals. This launch is more than a technical triumph; it is a catalyst for India's space dominance.

Based On DW Report

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China To Send Pak Astronaut As 1st Foreign Guest To Its Space Station

China and Pakistan have signed a significant cooperation agreement aimed at sending Pakistani astronauts to China's Tiangong space station, marking the first time a foreign astronaut will visit the station. This historic move is part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance space exploration capabilities between the two nations.

The agreement, witnessed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, outlines a process where two Pakistani astronauts will undergo comprehensive training at the Astronaut Centre of China. One of these astronauts will be trained as a scientific payload specialist, preparing for specialised research aboard the China Space Station (CSS). The selection process is expected to be completed by 2026, with a planned mission to follow shortly after.

The mission will involve conducting cutting-edge scientific experiments across multiple fields, including biological and medical sciences, aerospace, applied physics, and astronomy.

This collaboration not only highlights the deep-rooted strategic ties between China and Pakistan but also underscores China's growing influence in international space diplomacy. The training process for Pakistani astronauts will include learning the Chinese language and adapting to microgravity conditions, which pose significant challenges for space travellers.

The Tiangong space station, completed in late 2022, is capable of housing up to three astronauts for extended periods at an orbital altitude of up to 450 km.

This partnership is seen as a landmark step in Pakistan's space journey, with potential long-term benefits for its human spaceflight and exploration programs.

The agreement reflects China's commitment to expanding international cooperation in space exploration, particularly with developing countries, and is expected to boost Pakistan's technological innovation and capacity building in the space sector.

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China’s Shenzhou-19 Demonstrates Artificial Photosynthesis

China's Shenzhou-19 mission has marked a significant milestone in space exploration by successfully demonstrating artificial photosynthesis aboard the Tiangong space station. This ground breaking achievement, which took place recently, is the first of its kind in orbit and has profound implications for future long-term space missions.

The artificial photosynthesis system has been in development since 2015. It utilizes semiconductor catalysts within a "drawer-like" apparatus to facilitate the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and hydrocarbon fuels. A photosensitizer absorbs sunlight, generating excited electrons. These electrons drive reactions that convert carbon dioxide into useful products such as ethylene (a hydrocarbon fuel) and oxygen. The astronauts successfully produced ethylene, which can be used as rocket fuel. By adjusting the catalyst, they could also potentially produce methane or formic acid.

The Shenzhou-19 crew utilized a specialized drawer-shaped device equipped with semiconductor catalysts to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and ethylene, a compound that can be further processed into rocket fuel. This process mimics the natural photosynthesis performed by plants, which transforms carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Unlike traditional methods such as electrolysis, which are energy-intensive and require high temperatures and pressures, this new technique operates efficiently at room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure. This significant reduction in energy consumption makes it particularly suitable for long-duration space missions.

The ability to produce oxygen and rocket fuel in space addresses two critical challenges for long-term human survival during missions to destinations like the Moon and Mars. It reduces reliance on resupply missions from Earth, making deep-space exploration more feasible.

The successful demonstration of artificial photosynthesis is expected to lay the groundwork for sustainable living in space. As China's space program aims for ambitious goals, including a crewed moon landing before 2030, this technology could play a crucial role in establishing a self-sufficient presence beyond Earth. The China Manned Space Agency has highlighted that this innovation will provide essential support for human survival and exploration in outer space.

This advancement not only showcases China's growing capabilities in space technology but also sets a precedent for future missions that may rely on in-situ resource utilization strategies to sustain life in extra-terrestrial environments.

Agencies

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India May Join Hands With Russia To Set Up Nuclear Power Plant On Moon: Report

While India's timeline trails Russia and China’s joint efforts, its involvement in the lunar nuclear project could fast-track its participation in the creation of lunar infrastructure.

India's romance with Russia seems to be reaching for the moon. New Delhi has reportedly shown interest in teaming up with Moscow for setting up a nuclear power plant on the lunar soil.

The initiative, led by Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, is part of a larger plan to establish a permanent lunar base in partnership with China, according to media reports. The project aims to install a small nuclear reactor capable of generating up to 0.5 megawatt of energy, which will provide the essential power needed to support a future lunar colony.

According to a recent EurAsian Times report citing Russia’s state news agency Tass, Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev talked of the growing international interest in his speech at the Eastern Economic Forum. "The task we are working on is the creation of a lunar nuclear power plant with an energy capacity of up to half a megawatt," Likhachev said. "Both our Chinese and Indian partners are very interested in collaborating as we lay the groundwork for several international space projects."

Russia has already made some progress on the ambitious project. The goal is to launch the nuclear reactor by 2036, providing a reliable source of energy to power the proposed lunar base, which Russia and China are jointly developing. This base, known as the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), is expected to be operational between 2035 and 2045 and will serve as a hub for scientific research, open to all interested countries.

India, with its own ambition of setting up a lunar base by 2050, sees this collaboration as a potential opportunity to accelerate its space goals.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath outlined a provisional roadmap for Moon exploration during a talk on November 28, 2023, at a symposium organised by the Indian Society of Geomatics and the Indian Society of Remote Sensing. This plan builds upon India's recent lunar accomplishments and its growing human spaceflight ambitions.

In 2023, India became the fifth country to achieve a successful robotic landing on the moon with its Chandrayaan-3 mission. Following this success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an October statement, urged the country to pursue "new and ambitious goals", including sending astronauts to Moon by 2040.

While India's timeline trails Russia and China’s joint efforts, its involvement in the lunar nuclear project could fast-track its participation in the creation of lunar infrastructure, EurAsian Times reported.

The technological solutions needed for this complex venture are reportedly nearing completion. Rosatom plans to construct the nuclear plant autonomously, minimising human involvement, a significant feat that underscores the advancement in space technology.

Russian space agency Roscosmos, and China’s National Space Administration have been advancing their space collaboration since 2021, when they first unveiled plans to build the ILRS. However, geopolitical tensions, particularly with the US, could influence the scope and nature of international cooperation on the lunar base.

The importance of nuclear power for lunar exploration cannot be overstated. NASA has been considering the use of nuclear reactors for future lunar bases, as solar power has limitations. The Moon’s long 14-day lunar nights make solar energy unreliable, while nuclear power offers a continuous and stable energy source critical for sustaining a long-term presence.

India’s involvement in this lunar nuclear power plant project is another step in the global race to establish a permanent presence on the Moon.

Despite the complexity of the project, safety remains a top priority. Scientists have assured that transporting nuclear fuel to the moon is safe, with minimal radiation risks, even in the event of a launch failure. Moreover, the reactors are designed to automatically shut down if any issues arise, further reducing safety concerns.

Agencies

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Chinese Rocket Tianlong-3 Crashes After Accidental Launch During Ground Test

Beijing: A Chinese rocket, Tianlong-3 crashed on Sunday after an accidental launch during a ground test, its company Space Pioneer said in a statement, CNN reported.

Space Pioneer, a leading company in the commercial rocket sphere, specializes in liquid-propellant rockets.

According to CNN, the incident occurred when the first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket detached from its launch pad due to a structural failure. The rocket landed in a hilly area of Gongyi city in central China.

In a statement, Space Pioneer explained that the connection between the rocket body and the test platform failed, causing the first-stage rocket to separate from the launch pad.

"Due to the structural failure of the connection between the rocket body and the test platform, the first-stage rocket was separated from the launch pad," Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, said.

"After lift-off, the onboard computer was automatically shut down, and the rocket fell into the deep mountains 1.5 kilometers [0.9 miles] southwest of the test platform. The rocket body fell into the mountain and disintegrated."

As per the company's statement, there were no injuries after the crash as people in the area were evacuated in advance of the rocket test.

In April 2023, Space Pioneer successfully launched its Tianlong-2 rocket, becoming China's first commercial launch operator to send a liquid carrier rocket into orbit, according to state media, as per CNN.

Tianlong-3, the rocket that crashed on Sunday, is a large liquid carrier rocket. It was made to help construct China's satellite internet network.

Space Pioneer claims that the Tianlong-3's performance is comparable to SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket, adding that it will be capable of launching the rocket over 30 times per year after the rocket's first successful flight.

The accident comes just days after China's Chang'e-6 lunar module returned to Earth from space, where it collected the first ever samples from the far side of the moon.

The mission was a key milestone in China's "eternal dream" - as articulated by Chinese leader Xi Jinping - to establish the country as a dominant space power and comes as a number of countries, including the United States, also ramp up their own lunar exploration programs.

(With Agency Inputs)

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China`s Chang`e-6 Spacecraft Begins Return Journey To Earth With Samples From Moon`s Dark Side

With this significant feat — launching from the moon`s unexplored side — China is on the verge of being the first country to bring back samples from the dark side of the moon

China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe has successfully lifted off from Moon. The probe, as per an announcement from China's national space agency on Tuesday (June 4), is on its journey back to Earth after taking off from the far side of the moon, an area permanently hidden from our view.

With this historic feat — launching from the moon's unexplored side — China is on the verge of being the first country to bring back samples from a part of the moon no other country has touched.

The probe, as per a Reuters report, left the moon's surface at 7:38 am local time (2338 GMT), after gathering samples over two days - June 2 and 3.

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Chang'e-6 managed to endure high temperatures during its mission on the far side of the moon.

Chang'e-6 "withstood the test of high temperature on the far side of the moon," said the space agency.

Remarkable Mission

Unlike the previous Chang'e-5 mission, which collected samples from the moon's near side, Chang'e-6 operated under additional technical challenges — the probe had to operate without direct links to Earth.

Instead, it communicated through the Queqiao-2 satellite, launched in April to aid this mission.

Using a drill and a robotic arm, the Chang'e-6 probe collected soil from the moon's surface and just below it, as per reports from Xinhua, the state news agency.

Also read | China’s secret spaceplane ejects mysterious object into Earth’s orbit. US hunts it down

During its mission, Chang'e-6 also planted China's national flag on the moon's far side for the first time, reported Beijing Daily.

The probe is now orbiting the moon and will soon connect with another spacecraft in orbit, said the CNSA. From there, the moon soil samples will be moved to a return module, and travel back to Earth.

As per reports, the landing is expected to happen in China's Inner Mongolia region around June 25.

(With Inputs From International Agencies)

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