A 2026 study by researchers from the University of Cambridge and Politecnico di Torino has questioned the widely held perception that India offers exceptionally low-cost access to space. The study, published in Economics Letters, analysed more than 6,740 rocket launches between 1960 and 2025 and estimated India's average cost of placing one kilogram of payload into Low Earth Orbit at $13,302 in 2025. This was the highest figure among the major space powers examined, compared with $3,225 for the United States, $5,287 for Japan, $5,809 for China, $6,682 for Russia and $9,897 for Europe.
The findings appear to contrast with India's long-standing reputation for frugal space engineering. The study suggests that India's relatively high cost per kilogram is partly linked to the smaller payload capacities of its launch vehicles, which means fixed mission costs are distributed across fewer kilograms. The researchers also examined the relationship between launch frequency and declining costs, finding stronger evidence of cost reductions through experience in the United States and Europe. According to the analysis, India's comparatively lower launch cadence could limit opportunities to spread infrastructure and operational expenses across a larger number of missions.
However, the study's conclusions have been challenged by senior Indian space officials. ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan reportedly rejected the analysis, saying it was based on "wrong data." Former ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath also questioned the use of cost per kilogram as the sole measure of competitiveness. He argued that India's launch costs should be assessed in the context of the type and size of spacecraft being launched, adding that American companies benefit from enormous scale and frequent launches. Indian authorities have also historically provided limited public information on the complete cost structure of individual missions, making direct international comparisons difficult.
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The study highlights the growing impact of reusable rockets on the global launch industry, particularly through SpaceX's Falcon 9 programme. Reusable first stages and a very high launch frequency have allowed the United States to achieve substantially lower costs per kilogram than other major space powers. Researchers argue that scale, repeated operations and reusability are becoming increasingly important factors in determining competitiveness. India has conducted successful demonstrations of reusable launch technologies, but an operational orbital reusable launch vehicle is still under development.
The issue comes at a significant time for India's space programme as the country seeks to expand its commercial space sector and increase its presence in the global launch market. India is developing next-generation launch systems while private companies such as Skyroot Aerospace are pursuing commercial opportunities in the small-satellite sector. The government has also set ambitious targets for expanding the country's space economy over the coming decade. Achieving those goals could depend increasingly on reducing launch costs while improving launch frequency, vehicle capacity and reusability.
The study does not necessarily suggest that India's space programme is inefficient, but it does challenge the assumption that India is automatically the world's lowest-cost launch provider. Its findings instead point to a changing global space industry in which scale and reusable technology are becoming increasingly important. For India, maintaining technological independence while making launch services more commercially competitive could become a major priority. The debate therefore represents less a judgment on India's past achievements and more a question about how effectively the country's launch sector can adapt to the rapidly changing economics of access to space.
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