| Pub. Date | : Jan, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Product Name | : The IUP Journal of International Relations |
| Product Type | : Article |
| Product Code | : IJIR20120 |
| Author Name | : Hriday Ch. Sarma |
| Availability | : YES |
| Subject/Domain | : Management |
| Download Format | : PDF Format |
| No. of Pages | : 12 |
Hans J Morgenthau said, “International politics is a struggle for power”, where each nation seeks to enhance its power and influence. The age of space technology that commenced with the launch of Sputnik – I in 1957, heralded the beginning of a new program capable of serving as a double-edged instrument fulfilling both the defense and development needs of a country. Space program has been instrumental in the enhancement of national power. During the initial period of commencement of space age, national prestige, national pride and military applications were the main motivating forces behind the embracement of space program. India’s space program, which started its journey in 1962, has been now recognized as one of the leading countries in the world in the arena of space-based research. A post-colonial country, which is aspiring to become a major power in the 21st century, has a magical instrument in its possession, i.e., its space program, which has immense capabilities to serve both defense and development needs of India.
Space age came into existence in the middle of the 20th century when the erstwhile USSR placed Sputnik – I, earth’s first artificial satellite, in the low earth orbit. The space technology, which is now regarded as the most powerful means for the betterment and benefit of human beings came into existence to enhance national glory in an environment engulfed in the Cold War power politics. During the initial period of commencement of the space age, national prestige, pride and military applications were the main motivating forces behind the embracement of space program.1 Later on, a number of peaceful applications of space technology were identified, which encouraged a number of nations, including third world countries like India, to endorse the space program as a means for their socioeconomic development and transformation.