Axiom-4 mission i.e. AX-4 is a commercial space mission which is being run by the US private company Axiom Space. ISRO has spent around Rs 500 crore for Shubhanshu Shukla's seat in the Axiom-4 mission. Although this amount may seem huge at first glance, but if seen, it is an investment. In the coming time, this investment will give India new heights in the direction of space research and human mission. This is a big step towards training, research and international cooperation. Shubhanshu Shukla is not only the pilot of the mission, but will also participate in 60 science related experiments by staying in the ISS for 14 days. 7 of these experiments have been designed by India's ISRO. These include growing microalgae in space, studying muscle loss in space, development of seeds, effect of computer screen and investigation of the strength of organisms like tardigrades in space. These experiments will help in future farming in space, understanding the impact on human body and mental health during long space missions and finding new ways of life support in space missions.
American astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally landed safely near the Florida coast after 286 days of uncertainty and orbiting the Earth 4,576 times. Both astronauts returned in SpaceX's capsule, while they had started their journey in Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft. This mission has once again shown the growing role of private companies in the space sector. It will also prove helpful in preparing for Indian human missions like Gaganyaan. Now space stations of private companies are going to be built in space, not of governments. With the Axiom-4 mission, this race has gained new momentum.
Apart from Axiom Space, big companies like Blue Origin, Voyager Space, Northrup Grumman and Vast are in a race to build such space stations, where in future even common people will be able to experience zero gravity by spending a few lakh dollars. These stations will become major centers not only for space tourism, but also for medical research, high-tech production and film shooting. ISS will retire by 2030. After the year 2030, when the International Space Station (ISS) retires, then these private stations will start a new chapter of human presence in space.
India's space sector is undergoing a transformation with the growing participation of private companies. ISRO has handed over satellite launcher manufacturing to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and focused on technologies such as reusable rockets and orbital security. This strengthens the efforts of startups such as Skyroot, Agnikul and Pixxel. The synergy between the public and private sector is very important in the path of becoming a global space hub.
The establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center in the year 2020 was a historic change that increased the participation of the private sector in India's space sector. By promoting collaboration between ISRO and non-governmental entities, IN-SPACe has substantially increased private sector participation in satellite launch and space-based services. For example, Skyroot Aerospace, a private company, became the first company to launch a suborbital rocket, Vikram-S, in the year 2022. India's space startup ecosystem has seen rapid growth, with startups such as Agnikul Cosmos and Dhruv Space leading in launch vehicle technology, satellite manufacturing and space services. In 2021 alone, Indian space startups received investments worth $68 million, a growth of 196 per cent year-on-year. Public-private collaboration has been further boosted through partnerships between ISRO and industry giants such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Godrej Aerospace and L&T to build critical space infrastructure. These companies play a vital role in manufacturing components for launch vehicles, spacecraft and satellite subsystems thereby enhancing India’s self-reliance in space technology. Today, we have 250 startups working in cutting-edge areas such as space debris management, nanosatellites, launch vehicles, ground systems, research, etc. Since last year, India has scaled new heights with the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the Moon and the successful launch of India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1. India now aims to establish the ‘Indian Space Station’ by 2035 and send the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
Undoubtedly, the country will benefit greatly from the increased participation of private companies in the field of space. In fact, according to ISRO, the global space economy is worth about three hundred and sixty billion dollars but India has a share of only two percent in it. ISRO estimates that the country can increase this share to nine percent by 2030.