Space technologies offer benefits not only to the states which have satellites in the space but also to the ‘space have-nots’. The majority of satellite-derived products are now available at a cost. Recently, states like Russia have offered space trips to ‘fee-paying’ tourists. In future, with greater commercialisation, space could occupy a permanent place in international tourism.

Other benefits too could accrue to human beings thanks to space explorations. Take energy. At present the race for the moon has assumed urgency, given the possibilities of tapping Helium 3 from its surface and piping it to earth for energy generation. There are also possibilities of deploying space platforms that could capture sunlight and beam it down to earth for electricity. Any success in this area could offer global energy and security benefits — including the prospect of preventing future resource wars between energy-starved nations.

Developed militaries, too, are using space for military purposes — like communication, navigation, reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. There may be unfortunate consequences too. The recent anti-satellite test carried out by China throws open the possibilities of states even weaponising space in the near future, which could have extremely deleterious consequences for humankind.