India’s satellite launch cost 4x US, says Cambridge study; space dept source disagrees

India’s space price tag comes under scrutiny as Cambridge research flags high launch costs, while the government says key subsidies and savings were overlookedNEW DELHI: A 2026 University of Cambridge study has found that India’s per-kilogram launch costs are four times higher than America’s and, in fact, the costliest

While the global average launch cost in 2025 stood at $3,868 per kilogram, the US averaged $3,225 per kilogram, Japan $5,287, China $5,809, Russia $6,682 and Europe $9,897. India topped the list at $13,302 per kilogram.