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During the BRICS Heads of Space Agencies Meeting held in Bengaluru under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the Union Minister of Earth Sciences proposed the concept of a "BRICS Space Economy", calling for deeper collaboration to make space a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and sustainable development.

About the BRICS Heads of Space Agencies Meeting

The meeting was hosted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and brought together the heads of space agencies and senior officials from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

The primary objective was to review the progress of existing BRICS space cooperation and identify new avenues for harnessing space technology to address shared developmental and global challenges. The meeting reflected the growing importance of space diplomacy and scientific collaboration among emerging economies.

Key Areas of Discussion

The deliberations focused on strengthening cooperation in several priority areas, including:

• Space sustainability and responsible use of outer space.
• Development of debris-free and environmentally sustainable space missions.
• Expansion of the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation.
• Greater participation of the newly inducted BRICS members in space initiatives.
• Establishment of a proposed BRICS Space Council to institutionalise long-term cooperation.

The member countries also explored opportunities for collaboration in disaster management, Earth observation, satellite data sharing, capacity building, scientific research, and knowledge exchange, with the aim of improving resilience against natural disasters and supporting sustainable development.

India's Space Ecosystem

During the meeting, India highlighted the rapid growth of its space sector, particularly the emergence of a vibrant NewSpace ecosystem driven by private industries and startups.

India also showcased several recent achievements, including:

• Chandrayaan-3, which successfully demonstrated a soft landing near the Moon's south polar region.
• Aditya-L1, India's first dedicated solar mission.
• Progress towards the Gaganyaan Mission, India's first human spaceflight programme.

These achievements underline India's growing capabilities in scientific research, space exploration, and commercial space activities.

What is the Proposed BRICS Space Economy?

The proposed BRICS Space Economy envisions moving beyond conventional cooperation towards joint innovation, co-development, and commercial collaboration among BRICS countries.

The initiative seeks to promote:

• Joint development of space technologies.
• Investment and entrepreneurship in the space sector.
• Sharing of satellite data and scientific expertise.
• Responsible and sustainable space operations.
• Stronger partnerships in emerging areas of the global space economy.

It also aims to create a collaborative framework where member countries can collectively leverage their technological strengths to enhance economic growth and address developmental challenges.