Positioning Outer Space Industry in Global Order

The race to outer space is growing intense at a very rapid pace. Globally, countries are launching missions and expanding their commercial outer space industry in order to conquer the unknown. Human aspirations have directed him towards exploring and utilising the outer space at its best possible way. What is worth noticing in this context is that few countries dominate the space exploration sector and corner most of the benefits derived from commercialisation of outer space sector. The technology and scientific capabilities are not uniformly distributed throughout the globe, few countries have already taken the lead with their outer space explorations. The imbalance between the technological accessibility among countries is a threat to equitable outer space exploration and resource utilisation. The changing global order in terms of political, economic and social interest has its reflections in outer space arena as well. The dominant principle on the subject of global resources has been, ‘Common Heritage of Mankind’, though the principle of equitable benefit sharing of outer space is also recognised globally, but receives little traction in the real-politick of the global community. The outer space industry aids in the human existence (communication, remote sensing, meteorology etc.) and has a huge potential to build a country’s economy. The immense potential of outer space and human ambition to rule the resources in outer space, gives significant importance to the outer space industry. In near future, the unknown outer space might be the reason of hassle for human beings on the Earth. This study elucidates that the iniquitous system evolved for outer space exploration is diluting the benefits of non-space faring countries. Countries struggling with basic necessities and reaching to outer space is close to an imagination, their interests are hampered and ignored. This research attempts to highlight that the role of outer space industry in changing global order might come up as substantial in coming days, along with role of India G-20 presidency in building global cooperation.