The way forward for India to have a major role in establishing norms of behaviour in space

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) opened a new chapter in its success story on Sunday with the successful launch of its heaviest rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark 3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Rechristened LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3), the giant launcher carried 36 broadband communication satellites of the Britain-based communications company OneWeb into a low Earth orbit (LEO) of 1,200 km.

Even as Isro is globally recognised as a reliable launch service provider, the LVM3's flawless flight highlights its potential to attract more international customers and give Isro a slice of the $15 billion global commercial launch services market, which is projected to double by 2029.

Toying With LEO

Isro's mercantile ambitions, however, pale before those of space agencies in the US, China and Russia that extend far beyond LEO as they race to get first-mover advantage on the Moon and Mars. But unlike the Cold War-fuelled US-USSR space race that culminated in the first Moon landing, entirely different goals drive the new Moon dash. Earth's lone natural satellite is a treasure house of resources like helium 3 and rare earth elements, and settlers could extract hydrogen and oxygen from its rocks. Besides using the oxygen for breathing, these elements could also produce rocket fuel and help build radiation shields.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) plans to lead the way for Moon settlers with its Artemis programme - seen as a roadmap for human space-flight in the modern space age. Artemis 1 is scheduled for a November 14 launch. With two cancelled launch attempts due to technical glitches behind it, Nasa would be keen to get Artemis 1 off the ground as soon as safely possible. Artemis 1's Space Launch System rocket powers the un-crewed Orion spacecraft to the Moon to test its flight systems in lunar orbit before returning to Earth. This will be followed by a manned fly-by mission, Artemis 2, and, later, Artemis 3 that returns humans - including the first woman - to the regolith more than 50 years after Apollo 17 made the last Moon landing. Artemis 3 will dock with a lunar-orbiting platform, the Gateway, a waypoint for missions headed for the Moon, Mars and beyond.

To help government agencies build the Gateway, private companies are using futuristic, cost-effective technologies. Artemis' lunar lander, for instance, is made by SpaceX. But public-private partnerships (PPPs) further complicate the thorny issue of defining the legal landscape in space exploration - a daunting challenge before spacefaring nations. With 70-odd private entities planning lunar missions before the decade is out, the need for robust space laws cannot be overstated.

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