Creating space for private spacetech

Context: The recent opening of the space sector for private companies is a significant development that will excite legacy companies and start-ups alike in promoting space-tech in India.

Significance of Space Innovations

• Power to reckon with : Space and technology elevate power status of countries:

• China’s BeiDou Satellite Network with a constellation of 35 satellites will end its reliance over US-based GPS.
• Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) by the US, GLONASS by Russia, Galileo by the EU and QZSS by Japan showcase their respective control over space.

• Enabler of other technologies: 

• Myriad uses of GNSS, other than mapping, includes defense-oriented activities to everyday civil and business needs.
• China’s dominance in robotics and artificially have complemented the space technology, making it independent of the global systems.

India’s Achievements:

• The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS): launched by ISRO will be used for:

• Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation;
• Disaster management;
• Vehicle tracking and fleet management;
• Integration with mobile phones; Qualcomm has developed chipset for the integration.
• Precise timing, mapping, and geodetic data capture;
• Terrestrial navigation aid for civilian use including visual and voice navigation.

• Creation of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe): provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. 

• New Space India Limited: A government-owned body, created to catalyze the collaboration by seeking the needs of the private sector.

• Ensure focused approach by ISRO on R&D with committed, long term funding and private sector innovating by using new application and business models.

• Enthusiastic private sector:

• Bengaluru based Pixxel aims to launch 24 satellites for earth-imaging solutions.
• A startup called, Astrome, will launch 198 low-earth satellites aimed largely for space-oriented communications.

Way Forward:  

• Take inspiration from China: The rise of China in the space and another emerging tech should inspire India to fast track its ambitions and also by avoiding red-tapism.