INDIA AND CHINA SPACE PROGRAMS: FROM GENESIS OF SPACE TECHNOLOGIES TO MAJOR SPACE PROGRAMS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY by GAURAV BHOLA B.S. University of Central Florida, 1998 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term 2009 Major Professor: Roger Handberg © 2009 Gaurav Bhola ii ABSTRACT The Indian and Chinese space programs have evolved into technologically advanced vehicles of national prestige and international competition for developed nations. The programs continue to evolve with impetus that India and China will have the same space capabilities as the United States with in the coming years. This will present new challenges to the international community in spheres civilian, to space and military applications and their residual benefits. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER TWO: GENESIS AND MOTIVATIONS OF THE SPACE PROGRAM .................. 2 Indian Space Program ................................................................................................................. 3 Chinese Space Program ............................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER THREE: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPACE PROGRAM – HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE............................................................................................................................. 11 Space Program ........................................................................................................................... 11 Roots ...................................................................................................................................... 11 India ................................................................................................................................... 11 China .................................................................................................................................. 12 Laying the Foundation ........................................................................................................... 12 India ................................................................................................................................... 12 China .................................................................................................................................. 13 Applications :The Beginning ................................................................................................. 15 India ................................................................................................................................... 15 China .................................................................................................................................. 16 Satellite Endeavor: the Start .................................................................................................. 17 India ................................................................................................................................... 17 Satellite Endeavor: the Progress ............................................................................................ 19 China .................................................................................................................................. 20 The Launchers ....................................................................................................................... 22 India ................................................................................................................................... 22 China .................................................................................................................................. 23 India ................................................................................................................................... 25 China .................................................................................................................................. 25 Space Business: Commercial Space Activities ..................................................................... 26 India ................................................................................................................................... 26 China .................................................................................................................................. 29 Historical Objectives ............................................................................................................. 31 India ................................................................................................................................... 31 China .................................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER FOUR: COMPARISON OF INDIAN AND CHINESE SPACE PROGRAM ......... 36 Indian Space Program ............................................................................................................... 36 China’s Space Program ............................................................................................................. 37 The Beginning ....................................................................................................................... 38 India: Upliftment and Development .................................................................................. 38 China: Military and Prestige .............................................................................................. 39 The Budget ............................................................................................................................ 40 India’s Space Costs ............................................................................................................ 40 China’s Space Cost ............................................................................................................ 41 The Technology ..................................................................................................................... 42 India ................................................................................................................................... 42 China .................................................................................................................................. 42 Commercial Aspects .............................................................................................................. 44 iv Space Applications ................................................................................................................ 50 India ................................................................................................................................... 50 China .................................................................................................................................. 53 International Cooperation ...................................................................................................... 55 India ................................................................................................................................... 55 China .................................................................................................................................. 58 Manned Space Program ......................................................................................................... 61 India ................................................................................................................................... 61 China .................................................................................................................................. 61 Space Policy .......................................................................................................................... 62 India ................................................................................................................................... 62 China .................................................................................................................................. 66 CHAPTER FIVE: INTERNATIONAL ARENA AND POLITICS ............................................. 71 Why Start a Space Program ................................................................................................... 71 India ................................................................................................................................... 71 China .................................................................................................................................. 73 Present Dimensions ............................................................................................................... 74 India ................................................................................................................................... 74 China .................................................................................................................................. 77 Future Dimensions ................................................................................................................