In a recent milestone, India’s Chandrayaan-3 successfully touched down on the Moon’s surface on August 23, 2023, making India the fourth country globally to achieve this feat and the first one to land near the Moon’s challenging south pole. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the exceptionally low budget of approximately RO29 million, equivalent to a mere 0.09% of Oman’s GDP, setting a new standard for cost-effective space exploration.

At the heart of India’s success lies the principle of Jugaad, a Hindi term encapsulating the ability to find innovative solutions with limited resources. This cost-conscious approach, evident in India’s space endeavours, can serve as a guiding light for Oman as it embarks on its space exploration journey.

Key to India’s triumph in Chandrayaan-3 was its commitment to simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) streamlined its mission by minimising prototypes without compromising objectives, utilising locally produced components, and reducing dependence on imports. Onboard equipment, including an altimeter, cameras and sensors, were all developed in-house at ISRO, showcasing the value of self-reliance.

A noteworthy aspect of India’s approach was the strategic collaboration between the government and the private sector through the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

ISRO’s partnership with private entities allowed the leveraging of external expertise and resources, fostering innovation and significantly reducing the financial burden on the government. Oman could emulate this collaborative model, tapping into the potential of its private sector for its space aspirations.

India’s emphasis on research and development played a pivotal role in Chandrayaan-3’s success. Oman has an opportunity to replicate this by investing in its scientific community and educational institutions, cultivating a culture of innovation and space exploration expertise.

International collaboration emerged as a crucial factor in Chandrayaan-3’s triumph. Oman can strategically forge partnerships with established space-faring nations, sharing resources and expertise to enhance the success of its space programme. Such collaborations can facilitate knowledge exchange and contribute to Oman’s emergence as a key player in space exploration.

Sustainability was a key consideration for India, evident in the incorporation of reusable technology in lunar exploration. Oman can adopt a similar eco-conscious approach, exploring ways to minimise environmental impact and optimise resource utilisation in its missions.

Oman can take inspiration from ISRO’s approach to diversify its income streams, including the sale of satellite data and services through its commercial arm, Antrix, thereby creating a substantial revenue stream. Moreover, ISRO boosts its income by launching satellites and payloads for partner countries.
Jugaad is not a substitute for more traditional approaches to innovation and has its limitations, especially in relation to international standards and security.

The concept must be seen as a complementary tool in the innovation toolkit, which can complement traditional innovation by optimising resource use, focusing on faster implementation, and inspiring creative and sustainable solutions with users at the centre.

India’s success story offers valuable insights for Oman’s nascent space programme, exemplified by the successful launch of the Aman-1 satellite on November 11, 2023.

By studying and implementing the best practices from India’s Chandrayaan mission, Oman has the potential to carve its niche in the field of space exploration and inspire a new era of scientific achievement bringing the Sultanate a step closer to realising the goals outlined in Oman Vision 2040.

[The writer, Syed Adil Abbas, is an MBA graduate from Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK), currently based in Muscat, and has over 20 years of international experience working with the public and private sectors in the Middle East, Far East, Africa and India]