The Future of U.S.-India Private Sector Space Collaboration

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55763/ippr.2024.05.04.002

Abstract

India and the United States have dramatically deepened their cooperation on space exploration and technology in recent years. The two countries have codified their collaboration in the space domain through bilateral and multilateral agreements, including the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and the Artemis Accords. At the same time, private companies are playing an increasingly prominent role in each country’s civilian, military, and commercial space ambitions. While accounting for the differences in maturity and growth between each country’s private space sector, this paper examines the barriers and incentives to collaboration between the Indian and American private space sectors. This paper's recommendations aim to guide policymakers from both countries in bridging their respective private sectors to advance mutual objectives.

Keywords:

Space Policy, Innovation, Critical and Emerging Technologies, Commercial Space, Defence Cooperation, US-India Relations

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Authors Bio

Jollice Boyd, Johns Hopkins University

Jollice is a graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS, with concentrations in security, strategy, statecraft, and Asia. She graduated from Florida Southern College with a B.A. in Political Science and completed an internship with the U.S. Department of State. Currently, Jollice is a Senior Program Coordinator at World Learning, where she works on projects for the U.S. Department of State, such as Leaders Lead On Demand and the Professional Fellows Program.

Omar Husayni, Johns Hopkins University

Omar Husayni: Omar is a JHU SAIS graduate who focuses on defense and cyber policy. He previously worked as a contractor under the Department of Defense, addressing security issues worldwide, and is interested in cyber policy and diplomacy.

 

Peter Jarka-Sellers, Johns Hopkins University

Peter Jarka-Sellers: Peter holds an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, with concentrations in South Asia and energy and climate policy, and a B.A. from Macalester College. He recently interned at the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Observer Research Foundation America, where he researched India-U.S. climate and energy topics.

Aditi Mahesh, Johns Hopkins University

Aditi holds an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, with concentrations in South Asia and Strategic Studies, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. She currently works at the U.S. Department of State and was previously a defense consultant at the Pentagon, helping with the implementation of Irregular Warfare in OSD Policy.

Sophia Salazar, Johns Hopkins University

Sophia is a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS, where she studied technology and innovation policy in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.

Felix Spiekerkoetter, Johns Hopkins University

Felix has a background in international relations and policy analysis, holding a Master of Arts in International Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a B.A. in Philosophy and Economics from the University of Bayreuth. He has worked at Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research and at the Permanent Mission to the OSCE. 

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Published

2024-08-21