Union Minister of State (MoS) For Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on July 11 expressed that around 60 new startup businesses had enlisted with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) since the opening of the Indian space sector.
The three major sectors of the space industry are: satellite manufacturing (satellite and their subsystems manufacturers), support ground equipment manufacturing (items like mobile terminals, gateways, control stations, VSATs, direct broadcast satellite dishes, and other specialized equipment), and the launch industry (launch services, vehicle manufacturing and subsystem manufacturing) .
The other new businesses' recommendations differ from nano-satellite, launch vehicles, ground frameworks, research and so forth.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, “IS4OM facility will aid India in achieving its SSA (Space Situational Awareness) goals by providing comprehensive and timely information of the Space environment to users. This multi-domain awareness platform will bring a prompt, accurate and efficient information on on-orbit collision, fragmentation, atmospheric re-entry risk, space based strategic information, hazardous asteroids and space weather forecast.”
Jitendra Singh recalled that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during inauguration of IN-SPACe headquarters at Ahmedabad, said, “When the strength of government Space institutions and the passion of India’s private sector will meet, not even the sky will be the limit”.
This was expressed by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while talking in the wake of introducing the "ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operation" (IS4OM) at ISRO Control Center, in Bengaluru on Monday.
History: The space industry began to develop after World War II, as rockets and then satellites entered into military arsenals, and later found civilian applications. It retains significant ties to the government. In particular, the launch industry features a significant government involvement, with some launch platforms (like the Space Shuttle) being operated by governments. In recent years, however, private spaceflight is becoming realistic, and even major government agencies, such as NASA, have begun relying on privately operated launch services. Some future developments of the space industry that are increasingly being considered include new services such as space tourism.
From 2004–2013, total orbital launches by country were: Russia: 270, US: 181, China: 108, Europe: 59, Japan: 24, India: 19 and Brazil:1
Private sector in Space:
For some decades now, the private sector in India is involved in space sector development. Many components making up a large part of the manufacturing and fabrication of rockets and satellites already are in the hands of the private sector, including research institutions. But the need to increase their role and make them into a strategic partner is acute.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) needs to focus on research and development while leaving the rest to the private sector.
Keeping this in view, Government of India announced the setting up of a new space organization called the IN-SPACE (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre). It will facilitate and lay down rules for the private sector to play a much more significant and strategic role in space sector.
There are two main reasons why enhanced private involvement in the space sector seems important. One is commercial, and the other strategic. Of course, there is need for greater dissemination of space technologies, better utilisation of space resources, and increased requirement of space-based services. And ISRO seems unable to satisfy this need on its own.
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