Today, space development assumes greater significance in economic development and strengthening national defense capabilities with the rapid development of space science and technology. This has been speeding up efforts of developing countries to seek independent development of space technology.

In January 2024, India successfully launched the satellite for the exploration of the black hole in the universe and successfully put the solar exploration satellite “Aditya-L1” into its planned orbit. It also achieved another progress in its space development by launching “INSAT-3DS”, a weather satellite of a new generation in February.

In particular, India, which used to receive surveillance and reconnaissance images from U.S. space companies, has now put forward the possession of its own reconnaissance satellite as an important task related to national security and published its plan to launch its first reconnaissance satellite in April.

Iran is also propelling its work to develop its own satellite and space rocket despite criticism and sanctions of the Western forces.

On January 20, 2024, the new-type satellite “Sorayya” developed by the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was carried by the solid-fueled three-stage rocket “Qaem-100”, and successfully put into the 750km-long orbit.

At a press conference on the successful satellite launch, the commander of the aerospace force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the test-launch of Qaem-105, a space rocket with stronger thrust power built with the latest design, will be carried out by this year as part of the next stage in Iran’s space program.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced the country’s stand saying that the peaceful use of space science and technology is a legitimate right of a sovereign state, adding that the meddlesome criticism of the West will not stop Iran in its decision to attain development in its own space science and technology.

Subsequently, Iran succeeded in putting 3 satellites into space with a single launch for the first time with its Simorgh space rocket on January 28, displaying the ever-increasing level of the country’s space science and technology.

Space science and technology is coming into national focus in African countries as well.

On January 25, at a press conference, the managing director of NIGCOMSAT in Nigeria emphasized that his country is fully capable of developing satellites needed for national security by its own effort. And he called upon state institutions to use more of home-made satellites instead of foreign ones.

The President of Algeria touched on the need for independent development of space technology at a meeting of the Algerian Space Agency on February 12, where he laid down practical tasks of reinforcing the Space Agency with the latest technological equipment and undergraduates who possess modern skills, and raising financial assistance by the state.

Equitorial Guinea also forwarded its program to acquire and operate its own satellite to monitor its airspace in real time.

Many developing countries are now successively participating in the development of outer space, once thought to be a monopoly by some developed countries in the last century. This reality is highlighting the value of using outer space as a common asset of humanity, and emphasizing the importance that the peaceful use of outer space is an equal and legitimate right of every sovereign state.