DOORS OPEN FOR DREAMERS

With ISRO opening up its facilities to private firms, Indian space entrepreneurs are now dreaming of reaching new heights

- ABHINAV SINGH

On February 28, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s polar satellite launch vehicle PSLV-C51 lifted off from the Sriharikota spaceport carrying 19 satellites, including a 3U CubeSat (a nanosatellite) that weighs just 1.9kg. Named after Satish Dhawan, one of the pioneers of the Indian space programme, this nanosatellite carried a digital version of Bhagvad Gita, a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and names of 25,000 space enthusiasts.

Developed by a Chennai-based private space company, Space Kidz India (SKI), this satellite is currently in earth’s lower orbit, orbiting its home planet 16 times a day. The ‘all-under-one-roof’ concept of ISRO helped SKI speed up the testing process of its satellite. Also, if not for ISRO’s facilities, the testing and launch of the satellite would have cost the company a huge sum of money.

It was in May 2020 that the Union government had announced its new space legislation. Accordingly, the government opened up ISRO’s facilities for private companies. Also, an independent nodal agency named Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was created to act as a regulator and enabler for all space activities in India. Post that ISRO is welcoming private companies with open arms, sharing its facilities and technical mentorship. “Space is not only an elite industry but also one of the most expensive industries,” says Srimathy Kesan, founder and chief executive officer, SKI. “Opening up of the facilities [by ISRO] has truly come as a boon for organisations like ours.” According to the founders of Bengaluru-based space startup Pixxel, the establishment of IN-SPACe made communication and collaboration between the private space ecosystem and multiple sectors within the government more streamlined and efficient.