Escape velocity: On what India’s space sector must focus on

India's space sector must pivot from its romanticised origins to an economically viable model, says a report by Alessio Terzi and Francesco Nicoli. The cost of launching a kilogram into low-earth orbit via an Indian rocket in 2025 was $13,302, which outpaces competitors like China ($5,809), Japan, Russia, Europe and the United States ($3,225), and far exceeds the global average of $3,868.

This exorbitant price tag can be attributed to India's infrequent launches and lack of economies of scale. As of 2025, there were only five launches, a stark contrast to the 30 launches that were anticipated. This scarcity has resulted in payloads being launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 or other foreign rockets. The reliance on the 'aura' of technological prowess is no longer sufficient to harness India's space sector's potential, which can now be measured by job creation, long-term capital, and tax revenues.

The future of India's space ambitions should focus on heavy-lift launches that can undercut SpaceX and China, and the exploration of moon bases in collaboration with NASA. These endeavors, while exciting, are merely ornamentations and should not overshadow the engine of economic growth.