During the 1962 Cuban missile crisis the Kennedy government had released aerial photographs of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Analysts feel that these images shaped the course of the Cold War. Subsequently, significant investments were made by the Soviets and the Americans for aerial and space monitoring systems. This was the beginning of the usage of satellite technology for military as well as diplomatic purposes. However, in those days satellite technology was mainly used as a tool to forewarn opponents. Today satellite technology is also being used as an instrument to win friends.

In a recent initiative, India has offered to share satellite data with ASEAN countries. While addressing the seventh India-ASEAN Summit in Thailand Mr Manmohan Singh has made this offer to the 10 member association of Southeast Asian nations. He has promised that India would share satellite data — for the management of natural disasters — with these countries. It has also been proposed that India could help these states towards launching small satellites built by them. Today, with its well developed space programme India is in a position to offer help towards manufacturing and launching various payloads for experiments in remote sensing and communication for space agencies and academic institutions in these countries.

This initiative should be considered a welcome step towards increasing India’s influence in the region. Asia is expected to lead the global space development in the 21st century. In Asia Japan, India and China are the leading space powers. Amongst these powers India’s space programme is considered as a unique programme with a strong socio-economic bias. India has invested itself successfully in various arenas of space technologies from remote sensing and education to communication and planetary missions. The commercial utility of India’s programme is well known. Today, India offers the cheapest commercial launch facilities. However, to date India has not been found proactively using its space achievements as a tool for increasing its regional influence. Is Mr Manmohan Sing’s offer to ASEAN countries a step in that direction?

... contd.