Pvt sector will build rockets, says ISRO
NEWDELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Sivan on Thursday said the private sector will be allowed to provide end-to-end space services, including building and launching rockets and satellites.
“The private sector will be enabled to carry out space activities like building of rockets, satellites, providing launch services on a commercial basis . ... [It] can also be part of interplanetary missions of ISRO. This is being planned to be done through the announcement of opportunities,” he said at an online briefing.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the formation of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to open up the space infrastructure to the private sector. IN-SPACe will play a supplementary role to ISRO and will independently evaluate and approve space-related activities.
ISRO scientists have so far designed all launch vehicles and satellites and the private players were brought in to manufacture components.
Sivan said the Centre’s move to open up the space infrastructure will boost the country’s industrial base and improve access to space-based services.
Experts have been demanding that the private sector be involved in the routine space activities like launching communication and earth observation satellites to free up resources for exploration.
Rajeswari Rajagopalan, who heads Observer Research Foundation’s nuclear and space policy initiative, said if India does not accelerate the pace of privatisation of space sector, other countries will overtake it.
She said ISRO has not been very enthusiastic about involving the private sector. “ISRO has enjoyed complete monopoly and certain privilege in undertaking space mission so far because they are the only actors and why would they like to bring in competition from outside.” Rajagopalan added ISRO will now be judged against the performance of other players.
She said there is not much excitement in the industry right now. “It is a wait-and-watch approach because essentially it will all depend on the execution of this announcement into reality.”