‘Large rocket capacity being doubled, small rocket privatization by June’
₹860-crore contract to make five PSLV rockets in four years. This capacity is now being ramped up through more private vendor participation. Another key area is in completely privatizing Isro’s small rocket—the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
“All technology of the rocket will be transferred to the private sector, and Isro will no longer make them. There is a bidding process to license the small rocket’s technology, for which In-Space raised an expression of interest a few months ago. Since then, we’ve shortlisted companies that will qualify for the final bidding of the SSLV’s technology, who will be informed by next week.
Once they submit, the final process is likely to be completed within the next three months, after which the SSLV will be fully privatized," Goenka said. However, critics say the Indian private space industry suffers from gaps, for which the industry is looking to the Centre for solutions. “The stipulated demand for global satellite launches, as per earlier estimates made by various entities in India, was very high.
Right now, due to the macroeconomic slowdown, many companies have revised their satellite constellation launch estimates," said Chaitanya Giri, associate professor, science and technology policy, at Pune’s Flame University. This will significantly impact the ability for India’s private space startups to attract commercial business. If they cannot attract business, attracting substantial investors will be challenging," he added.
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