Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go (in Space)?

摘要

With much fanfare, Indian Prime Minister Modi's trip to the United States came to a close Sept. 30. Modi's whirlwind tour included a two-day meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, the goal of which was to reinvigorate a relationship that many felt had plateaued. In a joint Washington Post op-ed, Modi and Obama laid out a far-reaching agenda for the bilateral partnership, and outer space cooperation was mentioned as a potentially transformational component of their relationship, in line with their proposed new direction - chalein saath saath ("forward together we go"). Beyond catchy slogans, however, are current Indo-U.S. space cooperative initiatives living up to their full potential? Will space help India and the U.S. move forward together for a better world?