Guest:  Dr. Eligar Sadeh;  Topics:  The Indian space program including space policy & law developments.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com.  Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.   

We welcomed back Dr. Eligar Sadeh, this time to talk about his recent trip to India with a focus on India's space policy and law developments, plus a look into the overall Indian space program.  During the first segment of our 87 minute discussion, Dr. Sadeh talked about his recent visit to India to deliver three talks on public private partnership potentials for India, Indian space governance, and space policy and law development issues relevant to India.  Dr. Sadeh addressed the Indian space program with their university systems and centers throughout the country.  He talked about their launch vehicles for both GEO and polar launches and the expansion of their space capabilities.  He was asked several questions about commercial space in India, especially entrepreneurial activities, even the use of crowd funding for financing private Indian ventures.  As you will hear, this is all very new to India and only starting out in a small way.  Dr. Sadeh addressed this with multiple questions and comments throughout our entire show.

Dr. Sadeh did talk about the ISRO which is the rough equivalent for India to our NASA.  He also mentioned interest in the small satellite potential with experimental work being carried out in that area.  I asked about the Indian planetary science program to which Eligar addressed India's evolving deep space agenda. 

Dr. Sadeh had much to say about India's space strategy, especially for the Asia Pacific region.  He talked about their regional GPS system, Earth imaging capabilities and telecommunications.  he said India's private sector space is generally all government through a government corporation, ANTRIX.  He described this government corporation as the limited commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

We received many email questions.  One from Helen in Tacoma asked if there was a Moon vs. Mars debate in India.  Another question asked about India's interest in space settlement or humans going to Mars.  Our guest even got a question about gender bias in India's space program. As we were about to end the first segment, Dr. Sadeh spoke to the issue of India being a world space power today but that the country wants better recognition of that fact.  Just before the segment ended, Dr. Sadeh was asked about the militarization of space and space weapons which he said was a big topic in India.  Don't miss all that our guest had to say about this.  His final first segment program asked if there was an Indian astronaut program in the country.

In the second segment, Eligar had more to say about the three different talks he gave while in the country.  He then had much to say about the state of Indian space law and regulations.  It is not that well developed on the national and local level so as he said, they are dominated by international legal obligations such as those in the OST.  It is a challenge for India to modernize their regulatory regime to account for commercial space and what is happening elsewhere with deep space mining, commercial ventures, the possibility of space property rights, and private space missions and entrepreneurism which will for sure increase in India over time.  Eligar also said that intellectual property is not well developed in the Indian law. 

Dr. Sadeh talked about the impact on India of the tech transfer sanctions.  He said this forced India to develop local technology and that they are very proud of their technology development programs which are excellent.  This has happened as a result of what they needed to create due to the sanctions.

Dr. Sadeh then responded to questions about ICBMs, GPS, and regional space strategy matters as a result of the call from listener John in Ft. Worth.  Later, Eligar said that Indians admire NASA for both their past accomplishments and for what is happening now.  They also admire Elon Musk and SpaceX.  When asked about space competition, he said that China was their rival but they were not in a space race with China.  He was asked about the Indian human spaceflight program.  This came up in both segments but he said it was a back burner item at this time for India.

Before the segment ended, Eligar was asked about space science and astronomy in the country, the Indian interest in space solar power, and missions such as Kepler to look for exoplanets. Don't miss what he had to about each of these areas.  He was also asked what impressed him the most on his visit. He said it was the interest in space by the academic sector, especially students.  He was also impressed by their tasking space policy and law issues.  In his closing comments he referred us to a new book on the Indian space program.

Please post your comments/questions in the comments section for this archived program on TSS website.  Dr. Sadeh can be reached through me at drspace@thespaceshow.com.