Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?

Wing Commander Ajey Lele is working with Institute for Defence Studies Analyses, an India think-tank on security and strategic studies. He is a postgraduate in Physics and has obtained his doctorate in International Relations. He works on issues related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Strategic Technologies and Space Security. He has authored three books including Strategic Technologies for the Military (Sage, 2009).

This book explores the character and contours of the Asian Space Powers. At present, Asian states like China, Japan and India are found investing in space technologies with analogous social and scientific and probably with divergent military intents. Other Asian states like Israel, South Korea and Malaysia are also making investments in the space arena. States like Iran and North Korea are faulted for using space launches as a demonstrative tool to achieve strategic objectives. This work examines this entire maze of activities to unearth where these states are making these investments to accomplish their state-specific goal or are they also trying to surpass each other by engaging in competition. Explaining why and how these states are making investments towards achieving their socio-economic and strategic mandate this book infers that the possibility of Asian Space Race exists but is presently fairly diminutive.

This book offers lucid, focused narratives of the space programmes of various Asian states. It examines various major drivers in connection with growth of space programmes in the region and develops futuristic scenarios.

Offers lucid and focused narratives of the space programmes of various Asian states

Dedication.- Preface.- Structure of the Book.- Concept of Asia and Relevance of Space Technologies.- Asian Space Narratives.- West Asia's Investments in Space Technologies.- Pakistan's Space Capabilities.- India's Space Programme.- East Asia's Space Agenda.- China's Space Programme.- Japan's Space Programme.- Space Investments: South East Asia.- Strategic Implications of Space Technologies.- Missile and Nuclear Conundrums.- Satellite Navigation and Asia.- Deep Space Agenda.- Militarization and Weaponization.- Space Shuttle and Space Station.- Space Power Soft Power.- Conclusion.- Future of Asian Space Powers.- Scrutinizing the Race.- Index.