In 2022, India and the United States signed a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) arrangement, marking a significant step toward enhanced bilateral cooperation in space. While the specific terms of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, the arrangement is intended to facilitate the exchange of data and services related to the tracking of space objects and debris. This collaboration supports broader goals of space safety, sustainability, and transparency, and aligns with both countries’ commitments to responsible behaviour in outer space. The agreement also lays the groundwork for more advanced joint initiatives in space traffic management and collision avoidance.

Prerequisites:

• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications

• Partnerships with established SSA, STM, and Space Weather data providers

• Access to SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, data processing and analysis capabilities

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 100k–500k

• Includes: mapping of international partners with advanced SSA/STM/space weather programmes, negotiation and signing of MoUs or cooperation agreements, funding of joint research projects and pilot programmes, exchange of researchers and technical staff, joint workshops and capacity-building activities, access to partner data and tools for national use

Timeframe:

• Overall: 12–36 mo

• Phase: partner identification & scoping (3–6 mo), negotiation & agreement (6–9 mo), joint research & pilot projects (12–18 mo), evaluation & follow-up collaborations (6–12 mo)

Pros:

• Leveraging Existing Resources - Leverage the strengths of partner nations to improve domestic capabilities in SSA/STM/Space Weather.

• Fostering Collaboration - Foster collaborative research and development, leading to innovative solutions.

Considerations:

• Dependency - Reliance on external partners for critical capabilities