Understanding India’s International Space Cooperation Endeavour: Evolution, Challenges and Accomplishments

India has now emerged as a major space-faring nation with notable accomplishments in the launch vehicle, satellite, space application and space exploration domains in spite of beginning its space programme from a disadvantageous position vis-à -vis other space-faring nations of the day, besides endeavouring entirely in the civilian domain. International cooperation played an important role during the genesis and the early evolution of the Indian space programme and has played a complimentary role during the progressive accumulation of India’s current space capabilities. Once a recipient of assistance in the domain of space, in the new millennium, India has achieved the status of an equal and even a major partner in some of the joint space endeavours with its erstwhile benefactors and has established facilities for training space personnel from developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region. This article critically reviews India’s international space cooperation endeavour in the past five decades and its influence on the country’s current space capabilities.