Essay – Can ISRO overtake NASA in the coming years? | SBI PO, BOB Manipal, NICL AO 2017 Descriptive

Can ISRO
overtake NASA in the coming years? – Aarushi Mathur

When the achievements of Indian
economy are talked about, the triumphs of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) share a major portion. The Indian Space Agency, headquartered in
Bengaluru, Karnataka has earned accolades from all over the world for its
accomplishments in the recent years. The scientists across the world started
speculating that ISRO might soon overtake National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), the independent and executive space agency of the United
States. This comparison was a result of the radical Indian space projects that
were carried out by ISRO.

ISRO has taken a giant leap with
its most recent mission of launching 104 satellites in one go using PSLV, an
Indian rocket. The mission of 2014, the Mangalyan, was the least expensive
project of its type with a budget of only 450 crore rupees. India was the first
country to successfully reach Mars in its first attempt making it one of the
only four countries to have completed such a mission. The Venus exploration
orbit project, ADITYA-Sun space mission which was India’s first mission to Sun,
Chandrayan 2 and many such projects have made the world believe that ISRO cannot
be valued any less now.

India has signed agreements with
six countries-Algeria, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore and the US; to
launch satellites in the upcoming years. The fact that the US itself is so keen
on collaborating with India to launch their satellites clearly shows the pace
at which the Indian Space Agency is progressing. As far as surpassing NASA is
concerned, ISRO still has a long way to go but the fact that it has the
potential, cannot be denied.

In the terms of GDP, India is
expected to cross the $4 trillion mark in the next 3 to 4 years. This will
definitely make the financial assistance that is provided to ISRO, stronger. As
of now, only a little more than 10% of what the US spends on NASA, is allocated
to ISRO from the annual budget. ISRO is achieving new heights with each project
it undertakes and if it keeps improving, there is no hurdle that can stop ISRO
from being a counterpart to NASA in the coming years.