News

India, with the assistance of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is aiming to enter the 7 billion space economy by establishing itself as a low-cost yet reliable satellite launch services provider. Traditionally, satellite launches have been dominated by companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Russia, and China. However, geopolitical tensions and the Ukraine war have made it challenging for other countries to procure satellites from these traditional providers.

To facilitate the growth of the space sector and develop advanced space technologies, the Indian Cabinet has approved the Indian Space Policy 2023, allowing private companies to participate in the space sector. This policy has attracted initial interest from 20 companies for building small satellite launch rockets.

Among the companies involved in the space race, there are three Indian players. Agnikul and Skyroot Aerospace are working on building launch vehicles, while Pixxel aims to deploy a constellation of more than 30 earth observation micro-satellites. Tata Elxsi has partnered with ISRO for the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission, which seeks to demonstrate human spaceflight capability.

ISRO plans to transfer its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) entirely to the private sector. The SSLV is designed to launch nanosatellites weighing less than 10 kg and micro-satellites weighing less than 100 kg. These small rockets offer on-demand launch services, eliminating the need for clients to wait for larger rockets.

By encouraging private participation, ISRO hopes to unleash the potential of the Indian space industry and establish itself as a premier commercial space launch center. OneWeb, a British satellite company, recently partnered with ISRO after its launches in Russia were canceled.

The private space sector aims to develop cheaper and smaller satellites for applications in various fields, including communications and agriculture. The increased accessibility and affordability of satellite technology will have far-reaching implications for industries globally.

The post Private Sector Seeks Affordable Satellites for Communications and Agriculture appeared first on ISP Today.