Isro’s low-cost missions: A successful model that isn’t sustainable

In almost six decades of its existence, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has gained global recognition for completing complex space missions on remarkably low budgets. This cost-effective approach has been a defining feature of India’s space program.
In 2014, Prime Minister Modi famously pointed out “A one-km auto rickshaw ride in Ahmedabad costs Rs 10, but India reached Mars at Rs 7 per km.” India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan, cost just $74 million— less than the $100 million Hollywood movie Gravity.
Isro’s recent Chandrayaan-3 mission cost around $75 million, cheaper than movies like Interstellar and Adipurush.
While Isro’s cost-effective approach has earned international praise, the question arises: can this frugality sustain future missions given the rapidly evolving global landscape of space exploration?
Till last year, Isro was mostly about replicating what space giants had done – in a more cost-effective and error-free manner.
But when India successfully became the first nation to achieve the difficult mission to land on the south polar region of the Moon – we grew new wings. Our aspiration is now set at being the pioneer and venturing into the most complex space missions.
India is aiming to develop its own Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035. Building a space station requires continuous research on space debris, living in microgravity, and the challenges of the space environment.
Space stations are among the most expensive projects in history. The International Space Station, for example, is estimated to have cost over $150 billion to build and maintain.
The Chinese space station costs much less, but still a staggering $8 billion. Even our own Gaganyaan mission, which will take humans to space and bring them back will cost over $1 billion.
Isro’s current annual budget of approximately $1.6 billion is significantly smaller compared to other major space agencies.
Nasa operates with a budget exceeding $25 billion, and China’s CNSA gets over $18 billion. These space programs are heavily investing in technologies that ensure long-term sustainability, such as reusable rockets and plans for lunar bases. If Isro is to compete on this global stage, greater investment is critical to sustaining its goals.
Investments made today will yield cost savings in the future. Take the case of reusable rocket technology. Traditional rocket launches are like single-use disposable items, where the entire rocket is discarded after just one flight.
In contrast, reusable space launch systems are designed to launch, land back, get refurbished, and fly again with new payloads. For example, SpaceX advertises a launch of its reusable Falcon 9 rocket for less than one-third the cost of a non-reusable launch vehicle. This innovation has dramatically reduced the costs of individual launches which would matter when humanity will see over 60,000 satellites in space in the very near future.
Then there is the fact that Isro needs a next-generation launch vehicle. Isro’s LVM3 has the capacity to put about 8,000 kilograms in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Comparatively, China’s Long March 5 stands at 25,000 kilograms and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is at 22,800 kilogram capacity for LEO.
India is already working on the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) a.k.a Soorya, marking a significant step toward fully reusable space launch systems. But there is a need to achieve NGLV faster to keep pace with the global space giants and also work on Reusable Launch Vehicles.
For India to stay at the top of the competition in the global space race, Isro’s low-budget frugal approach will need a bit of tuning down. Space is not only about scientific exploration but also about securing strategic and economic dominance. Nations that invest heavily in space technology today will be the leaders of tomorrow, reaping the benefits of space mining, space tourism, and technological innovation.
Space holds the potential to solve many of Earth’s most pressing problems, from energy shortages to the scarcity of essential materials.

Take, for instance, Helium-3, a potential fuel for nuclear fusion reactors. Fusion is what powers the Sun. This reaction is so powerful that with just 25 tons of Helium-3, you could power India for a year.
The Moon has 1.1 million tonnes of Helium-3. This means if we were able to bring back Helium-3 to Earth, we would have enough energy to power India for over 44,000 years. Helium-3 could potentially be the key to infinite power.
Another example is asteroids. Asteroids are packed with precious minerals and metals critical to the Earth’s economy, such as platinum, nickel, silver, and gold. One NASA report estimates that the combined mineral wealth in the asteroid belt might exceed $100 billion for each human being on Earth. With investment in space mining technology, India could tap into this wealth, ensuring resource security for centuries to come.
By 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, space could be a driving force behind its economy, security, and international influence. But it won’t happen without significant budgetary commitment and perhaps even risking a few failures. This will also allow us to invest more in startups, research, and being able to better pay the best minds in space technology.
Isro’s frugal approach has served India well, but the future of space exploration demands more willingness to take risks for excellence.
(This is an authored article by Srijan Pal Singh. He is an author and an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, who was the Advisor for Policy and Technology to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, 11th President of India. He is the Founder and CEO of Dr. Kalam Centre and Homi Lab)