In the world of space exploration, India has a lot to prove. It is no secret that India has a fledgling space exploration agency, and with their current funding, they will likely not be amongst the elite anytime soon. If you’re reading this correctly, that last sentence was not sarcasm. With little funding, ISRO has still managed to send satellites into orbit and conduct successful moon landings. 

They have also launched numerous satellites as collaborative efforts with other international space programs. However, with such limited funding and restricted technology resources, it is no wonder why we don’t hear about them much anymore. 

With the scope of their operations so small compared to NASA or any other major space program, what would happen if ISRO had the same budget?

What Would Change If ISRO Had the Same Budget as NASA?

From what we know about ISRO, they have always had a pretty narrow focus, but with a budget like NASA’s, they would likely take on a broader range of missions. For one, ISRO would have the funds necessary to launch more rockets, which alone would be a significant change for ISRO. But with its higher budget, ISRO could also double its launch capacity.

They would send several new satellites a year into orbit, allowing the world to better connect with India. With the ability to launch twice as many satellites, India would also be able to better protect its borders from threats with an upgraded satellite network.

More Satellites and a Stronger Network

Another main difference between these two agencies would be the number of satellites in orbit. Currently, ISRO has about two dozen satellites in orbit around the Earth. While this is a large number for India, it is very modest compared to NASA’s 500+. 

With the extra funds and capacity, ISRO could have a satellite network that matches, if not surpasses, most of their current satellite networks. Additionally, they could create a safer environment below as they would have the funds to send more weather observation and climate control satellites.

An Increase in Pay for ISRO’s Scientists

Finally, the budget of NASA is so high because of the high salaries for scientists who work for the agency. While ISRO does have a list of scientists on their staff, their pay is not nearly what it is for NASA scientists. With a larger budget, ISRO could offer a much more competitive salary to entice the best and brightest in the world. 

It would mean that ISRO would not only be able to hire from India but from anywhere in the world. Not only would this allow them to hire the best minds in the field, but it would also be a huge PR boost for India. More people would see what ISRO is doing, learn about India’s space program, and potentially become future recruits.

ISRO Missions that Would Be Possible with a Same-sized Budget

The types of satellites that ISRO would build with a budget of equal to or less than NASA would be quite different. While NASA focuses mainly on robot missions and deep space exploration, ISRO would likely focus on expanding its communications and remote sensing capabilities. 

If ISRO had the same budget as NASA, they would still be able to launch rovers, landers, and orbiters, but they would have a much smaller scope for the duration of their mission. With less funding, NASA would have to cut some corners and scale back its mission goals.

Bigger And Better Missions

While ISRO would likely have a smaller budget than NASA, they would also have a shorter mission timeline. They would likely have to focus on smaller missions with longer lifespans. On the other hand, NASA would likely have a larger budget and mission goals with a longer lifespan. They could launch more extensive and complex missions with more advanced technology.

ISRO Will Repair and Re-Launch Drones

One of the first missions that ISRO would likely attempt is to repair and launch re-usable drones for near-space exploration. The most significant difference between NASA and ISRO’s current drone launch platforms is that NASA has designed their drones to be re-usable for multiple missions. ISRO, on the other hand, has designed its platform to be disposable. 

With a smaller budget, ISRO would likely be unable to build a new and improved drone platform. However, they would have the funding to repair and re-launch their current drones. It would be a massive boon to their operations, especially since we would waste no time building new and improved platforms.

ISRO Will Create Robotic Assistants for Doctors

ISRO would likely also focus a lot on creating robotic assistants for doctors. It would allow them to lower the cost of healthcare by decreasing the need for human doctors. While NASA is already working on this, they have a much larger budget and can do more extensive research. With a smaller budget, ISRO would have to focus on more basic research with more fundamental solutions. 

With the same budget as NASA, ISRO would be able to create assistance robots for doctors and nurses. However, their robots would be simpler and less sophisticated than NASA’s.

ISRO Will Create Robotic Assistants for Farmers

With a smaller budget, ISRO would likely have to focus on creating robotic assistants for farmers. These robots would be designed to help farmers with planting, harvesting, and storing their crops. It would allow many Indian farmers to plant crops throughout the year instead of during the few months when it is too hot to plant. 

It would also allow them to have a stable supply of food throughout the year, so there are no shortages during certain seasons. It would help to lower the prices of produce year-round. It would also allow Indian citizens to have healthier diets. It would translate to a healthier Indian population and fewer Indian citizens visiting doctors.

Advanced Propulsion and Interstellar Travel Research

If ISRO had the same budget as NASA, they would likely be able further to explore their research into advanced propulsion and interstellar travel. Specifically, ISRO is researching ways to design a solar sail that they could use for space travel. A solar sail is a giant sail that uses the sun’s light as propulsion.

It is a bit of a wild idea, but it is something that many researchers are looking into. While solar sails sound exciting, we don’t yet fully understand how they would work in practice. NASA has been researching these types of sails as a possible way to explore the farthest reaches of space. While solar sails sound like an excellent idea, we would need a lot more funding to understand how they work and if they are feasible entirely.

Better Technology and Improved Collaboration

If ISRO had the same budget as NASA, they could significantly improve their spacecraft’s technology. It would likely allow them to accomplish their space exploration goals more effectively and potentially pave the way for more ambitious projects. They would also establish a much more collaborative relationship with NASA and other major space programs. 

Collaboration between multiple space agencies is essential because it leads to breakthroughs and discoveries. While ISRO has made advancements in their space exploration efforts, they would likely be able to accomplish so much more with the same budget that NASA has.

Same Budget, Different Outcome

Looking at ISRO’s current budget, we can see what’s holding them back. It is because their technological capabilities are minimal. With a specific budget, they can only launch some satellites per year on average. 

While many people may say that a space program can’t increase its budget by 10 times, it is essential to note that it is possible to have a higher budget without spending on frivolous expenses. It would allow for an increase in their satellite launches per year. Along with this, it would also allow for technological advancements and more research to be conducted.

More Robotic Exploration

One thing that has always set space exploration apart from the rest of science is that it is less about discovery and more about survival. Scientists explore different planets to discover new lifeforms and how they can keep humans alive on another planet. Many planets and other celestial bodies are still largely unexplored with limited space exploration.

Better Communication and Collaboration

Communication is essential in every aspect of human life, whether with other space programs or fellow scientists and engineers. It includes space exploration and research. With a low budget, ISRO cannot obtain communication satellites as frequently as NASA.

Collaboration is also an essential aspect of space exploration. Communication from mission control to the astronauts on board the ISS is limited. In the past, NASA has collaborated with other space agencies, such as the ESA. This collaboration has allowed for technological advancements such as the Hubble Space Telescope.

More Satellites, More Research, and More Exploration

With a higher budget, ISRO could obtain and launch more satellites. It would provide them with more data and allow them to conduct more complex research. It would also allow them to explore more space and celestial bodies.

Currently, they are limited to launching satellites into low Earth orbit, which only allows them to collect data from a small portion of the planet and the atmosphere. Satellites launched into higher orbits would allow them to collect data from other parts of the planet, including the oceans. It would allow them to collect data on global warming and help scientists predict the weather.

A Revamped and More Advanced Space Program

With a larger budget, ISRO would be able to increase the size of its team, conduct more research, and acquire more advanced technology. It would allow them to compete more with NASA and other major space programs. 

They would also be able to participate in collaborative efforts with other space programs. It would allow them to learn from other teams and vice versa. It would also allow them to advance the field of space exploration and allow us to learn and understand more about our solar system and beyond.

Probing and Discovering Our Solar System

With more funding, ISRO could obtain and launch more satellites into orbit. It would allow them to collect data from the solar system and provide information on a broader scale. It would include data on distant stars and the Milky Way galaxy. It would also provide information on the Earth and answer some of the most critical questions humans have asked. 

Some of these may be: Are we alone in the universe? What caused the Big Bang? Where did we come from? What is our purpose? It would allow for advancements in science and technology and to learn more about our origins and the future of our planet.

Advancement in Robotics and AI

One of the most critical aspects of space exploration is the advancement of robotics and AI. It is because, at least for now, humans cannot survive in space with the technology that we currently possess. Advancements in robotics and AI will allow us to explore space and advance our knowledge on a much grander scale. With a larger budget, ISRO would be able to advance their research and development of AI and robotics. 

It would allow them to create robots and AI that would allow astronauts to explore space without risking their lives. It would help astronauts conduct more complex missions without returning to Earth every few months. Advancements in space exploration and the discovery of new and exciting things about the solar system that we currently do not know would be made.

Advancement in Human Health Research

When considering advancements in human health research, it is essential to note that most research is done using satellites. It includes space exploration and research on the Earth. With a larger budget, ISRO could obtain more satellites and conduct more research. It would help them collect more data and provide more information on various fields.

Some fields they would be able to research more in-depth include climate change, weather patterns, natural disasters, and more. It would allow them to understand better how to predict and prevent these events from occurring in the future. It would also let them advance their research in other fields, such as human health and disease.

What Could Be Developed with the Same Budget

With the same budget, ISRO could obtain more advanced technology and launch more satellites. It would provide them with more data and allow them to conduct more research with a broader range. It would also allow them to explore more space and celestial bodies.

With more advanced technology, they could create more complex robots and AI and allow astronauts to explore space without having to return Earth every couple of months. With more satellites in orbit, they could collect more data from the solar system and provide more information on a broader scale. 

It would include data on distant stars and the Milky Way galaxy. It would also allow them to understand better how to predict and prevent natural disasters and advance their research in several fields, such as human health and disease.

Improved Technology

With a larger budget, ISRO could obtain more advanced technology. It would provide them with more data and allow them to conduct more research. It would allow them to create more efficient satellites and launch them into space more frequently. 

It would allow them to explore more parts of the solar system, including distant stars and the Milky Way galaxy. It would also allow them to understand better how to predict and prevent natural disasters and advance their research in various fields, such as human health and disease.

Human-crewed Mission

With the same budget, we could see the Indian Space Research Organization take a shot at human-crewed missions. While they likely wouldn’t be able to develop the identical spacecraft as NASA, they could still attempt to send humans into space with their equipment. With such a large budget, we could expect to see the ISRO attempt crewed missions and see where it takes them. We could see them attempt to join the elite list of space programs that have sent humans into space.

No matter what the Indian Space Research Organization does with its budget, we can expect them to be able to make significant advancements and discoveries. With such a small budget compared to NASA, the ISRO has still managed to accomplish a lot, so we can only imagine what they could do with a budget as immense as NASA’s.

Rebooting the Indian Space Program

With the same budget as ISRO, NASA could attempt to conduct a more in-depth study of the lunar surface and attempt to collect samples of various elements on the surface. They could also attempt to launch probes that could conduct a thorough investigation of Jupiter’s atmosphere and attempt to collect samples of gases from the atmosphere.

NASA also can launch satellites into orbit and conduct research with satellites in the Heliosphere. With a larger budget

Conclusion

From what we know about ISRO, they have always had a pretty narrow focus, but with a budget like NASA’s, they would likely take on a broader range of missions. With a larger budget, ISRO could launch more rockets, have a more significant number of satellites in orbit and have a longer lifespan for their missions.

With more funding, they would be able to launch more complex and more extensive missions while also creating more advanced technologies. They would also be able to repair and re-launch their current drones. In short, ISRO would likely be able to do more with a larger budget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtDgWk1cySs

Last Updated on October 10, 2023 by ayeshayusuf