The Indian Space Research Organisation will stop producing operational space systems, according to the new Indian Space Policy, which was made public on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Instead, it will concentrate its efforts on research and development of cutting-edge technology.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has always been at the forefront of India's space exploration programs.
For years, it has been manufacturing operational space systems for both national and international clients.
However, as per the new Indian Space Policy-2023, the ISRO shall transition out from manufacturing operational space systems and instead focus its energies on research and development in advanced technologies.
This change in policy is a significant shift for the ISRO, and it could have a far-reaching impact on the Indian space sector.
The ISRO will now have more time and resources to focus on research and development of new technologies, which could lead to breakthroughs in areas such as satellite technology, space exploration, and other space-based applications.
The policy also permits non-government entities (NGEs) to offer national and international space-based communication services, through self-owned, procured or leased geostationary orbit (GSO) and non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) satellite systems.
This opens up new avenues for private entities to participate in the Indian space sector and provide communication services to both domestic and international clients.
NGSO is a reference to low earth orbit or medium earth orbits that are home to satellites providing broadband internet services from space.
With the availability of NGSO, NGEs can now offer high-speed internet services to remote areas of India, which are not currently served by traditional broadband providers.
This will improve connectivity and provide new opportunities for economic growth and development.
The policy also encourages NGEs to establish and operate ground facilities for space objects operations, such as telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) Earth Stations and Satellite Control Centres (SCCs).
This will further boost the participation of private entities in the Indian space sector and improve the operational capabilities of the space sector as a whole.
In addition, the policy allows NGEs to undertake end-to-end activities in the space sector through the establishment and operation of space objects, ground-based assets and related services such as communication, remote sensing and navigation.
This will enable private entities to provide a wide range of space-based services, which will create new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The policy encourages NGEs to use Indian orbital resources and/or non-Indian orbital resources to establish space objects for communication services over India and outside.
This will provide new opportunities for private entities to participate in the Indian space sector and will further boost the sector's growth and development.
Furthermore, the policy encourages NGEs to manufacture and operate space transportation systems, including launch vehicles, shuttles, as well as design and develop reusable, recoverable and reconfigurable technologies and systems for space transportation.
This will create new opportunities for private entities to enter the space transportation sector and will lead to the development of new and innovative space transportation technologies.
The policy encourages NGEs to engage in the commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource.
This is a significant shift in policy and opens up new opportunities for private entities to participate in the commercial exploitation of space resources.
The policy states that any NGE engaged in such a process shall be entitled to possess, own, transport, use, and sell any such asteroid resource or space resource obtained in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of India.
The new Indian Space Policy-2023 is a significant shift in policy, which opens up new opportunities for private entities to participate in the Indian space sector.
The policy encourages private entities to participate in all aspects of the space sector, from manufacturing and operating space systems to providing space-based services and engaging in the commercial exploitation of space resources.
This will lead to the development of new and innovative technologies and will drive the growth and development of the Indian space sector.
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