The 16th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO) held from 19 to 23 September 2023, under the theme of “Accelerating Space Economies through Regional Partnership”, explored new pathways to ensure significant transformation of the space programmes of all the member states. APSCO is a Beijing-based intergovernmental organization, which offers a cooperative framework to its member nations to mainstream the peaceful use of space as an economic engine. Such regional frameworks hold immense potential to provide much-needed impetus to Pakistan’s hitherto dilatory programme.
The government of Pakistan envisioned a Space Programme 2040 in 2011, subsequently renamed Space Vision 2047, which underlies the space ambitions of the country. Embarking on its splendid space journey with the establishment of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in 1961, it was a moment of national pride and a remarkable achievement when Pakistan launched its first communication satellite Rehbar-1 in collaboration with NASA in June 1962. Unfortunately, for the past few decades, the space programme is lacking any visible progress and presenting a dismal picture. Thus, Programme 2040 is an attempt to rejuvenate the lost spirit of SUPARCO.
In the early years, the country was collaborating with the USA to fulfil its longstanding space dream; however, the changing dynamics of the region brought it closer to China. Pakistan shifted its focus towards China to amplify its space programme and both countries have been collaborating bilaterally since 1991. To enhance the space cooperation under the CPEC umbrella, China has already proposed a “silk space road” for converting the CPEC into a three-dimensional project comprising land, water and space partnership. SUPARCO and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) have also signed a space exploration agreement in 2019 to advance the cooperation.
Pakistan can harness the benefits of the proposed Silk Space Road initiative, by enhancing cooperation through joint research projects, technology transfer especially satellite development and launching capabilities, and intelligence sharing in space science. Simultaneously, the expansion of research programmes offered under the CPEC to initiate space-related educational projects would improve the existing state of space education. Furthermore, the establishment of Special Technology Zones on the pattern of Special Economic Zones to promote partnerships between Chinese and Pakistani companies will further enhance Pakistan’s indigenous space capabilities.
As the commercial sector made 94 per cent of total satellite launches in 2022, encouraging private sector involvement in its space endeavours by granting licences will further resolve the financial constraints hindering Pakistan’s space journey. Deepening collaboration with China for future space projects will not only help to meet the goals of Space Programme 2040 but also take it to an advanced level.
India founded the Indian Space and Research Organization in 1969 to join the space race; almost 8 years after Pakistan started its space mission, yet it is making incredible advancements. Contrarily, Pakistan is lagging far behind in the space race which is necessary to realize the goals of Space Vision 2047. Fostering cooperation in the domain will also be beneficial to optimize the space capabilities of Pakistan for satellite monitoring of natural disasters, land and resource surveying, and waste handling in a microgravity environment. Concurrently, this cooperation would help China expand its space market.
There are projections that China will be the leader in space technology by 2040. Being number one in terms of orbital launches for the past few years, it has also developed tactical satellite capabilities. Chinese Beidou, an alternative to the USA’s Global Positioning System, is already being used in 165 countries and threatening GPS’s hegemony. As China is broadening and diversifying the horizon of cooperation from traditional to multidimensional, integrating its regional allies under Beidou in the near future has prospects of strengthening the capabilities mainly in intelligence, reconnaissance and navigation.
However, will this cooperation alone get the space programme back on track without putting the house in order? Pakistan’s space history shows that one single issue is not responsible for the lag in Pakistan’s space quest. Rather, there are a wider and broader range of decades-old system failures.
The change observed in the country’s priorities because of its security concerns raised by the geopolitical landscape caused huge space budget cuts. Apart from that some other adverse factors include the dearth of experts in the field of aeronautical science, lack of research culture and job opportunities, lack of legislation to promote private partnership in the space sector and scarcity of indigenous space infrastructure, which need to be addressed within the ambit of cooperation. Pakistan, grappling with its severe economic challenges, cannot afford to ivest hefty amounts in indigenous infrastructure for building capacity in the short term. Therefore, strengthening international collaboration in the field of space seems a more viable option.
Space exploration has gained strategic significance because of its potential for diverse purposes. To reap the potential benefits of international collaboration in future, Pakistan needs indigenisation and for that, it should enact space legislation which comprehensively covers all aspects of space activities.
As the commercial sector made 94 per cent of total satellite launches in 2022, encouraging private sector involvement in its space endeavours by granting licences will further resolve the financial constraints hindering Pakistan’s space journey. Deepening collaboration with China for future space projects will not only help to meet the goals of Space Programme 2040 but also take it to an advanced level.
