More delays in India’s space program
Blaming COVID-19, the head of India’s space agency ISRO, K. Sivan, announced yesterday that they are delaying the first unmanned test flight of their manned space capsule so that it will not fly in 2021 as planned.
ISRO had planned eight launches in 2021, but has so far only flown one, and that launch took place in February. Since then no launches have occurred. Moreover, in 2020 India only completed two launches, far less than planned. In other words, their fear of COVID has essentially shut down their entire government space program for two years.
Meanwhile, China, Russia, SpaceX, and most other private companies roll on, launching frequently and without any negative consequences. The difference tells us that India is over-reacting, and allowing its fearful bureaucracy to run the show. The result is that they are losing ground not only in their effort to fly their first manned mission, but in commercial market share. I am certain that satellite companies that would have flown on their rockets have been shifting their business to SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and many of the other new rocket startups in the U.S.
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Blaming COVID-19, the head of India’s space agency ISRO, K. Sivan, announced yesterday that they are delaying the first unmanned test flight of their manned space capsule so that it will not fly in 2021 as planned.
ISRO had planned eight launches in 2021, but has so far only flown one, and that launch took place in February. Since then no launches have occurred. Moreover, in 2020 India only completed two launches, far less than planned. In other words, their fear of COVID has essentially shut down their entire government space program for two years.
Meanwhile, China, Russia, SpaceX, and most other private companies roll on, launching frequently and without any negative consequences. The difference tells us that India is over-reacting, and allowing its fearful bureaucracy to run the show. The result is that they are losing ground not only in their effort to fly their first manned mission, but in commercial market share. I am certain that satellite companies that would have flown on their rockets have been shifting their business to SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and many of the other new rocket startups in the U.S.
Please consider donating to Behind the Black, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below. Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Your support is even more essential to me because I keep this site free from advertisements and do not participate in corrupt social media companies like Google, Twitter, and Facebook. I depend wholly on the direct support of my readers.
You can provide that support to Behind The Black with a contribution via Patreon or PayPal. To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation. For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
I have also heard it said that jet engine development is troubled. Well, I did well in school-but MTV skateboarding drop-outs have more money than I or my Dad ever made. Maybe it’s that sort of thing.
The USA didn‘t slow their space program for the “Hong Kong” flu, why should there be any slow-down for the Indian program? One launch in 2021 should be considered a disgrace, and people need to be fired/re-assigned pronto!
David M. Cook asked: “The USA didn‘t slow their space program for the “Hong Kong” flu, why should there be any slow-down for the Indian program?”
The slowdown was due to. the unreasonable reaction to a flu, a flu that couldn’t even kill 0.1% of the world’s population — although the World Trade Organization fears that the reaction might kill 1.4% of the population through malnutrition.
If India was ready to do so much damage to itself over such a minor illness, what will it do should a real pandemic come along?
It is a problem with panic, the reaction becomes worse than the problem that is feared. What is worser still is that the panic continued even after the data showed that the panic reaction was unnecessary and counterproductive.
The real question is: has the world learned its lesson from its horrific reaction to the Wuhan flu? Has India?