In 2023, ISRO will launch dedicated science missions to the Sun (Aditya) and Moon (Chandrayaan)- 3 despite the space applications startup sector’s expected growth.
The Gaganyaan project’s first uncrewed mission is expected in the fourth quarter of 2023 to test the human-rated launch vehicle, orbital module propulsion system, and recovery operations.
This month, Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Litendra Singh told Parliament that ISRO plans to conduct the first runway landing experiment (RLV-LEX) of the reusable launch vehicle from Chitradurga’s Aeronautical Test Range early next year.
Indian startups made their debut with Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-S rocket’s suborbital flight, the first by a private company, and Pixxel’s hyperspectral satellites Shakuntala on SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket in April and Anand on ISRO’s PSLV in November.
Skyroot Aerospace, which launched India’s first privately developed rocket in November, plans to launch a client satellite next year, while IIT-Madras startup Agnikul Cosmos will test its highly customizable Agnibaan rocket.
“We are developing six commercial hyperspectral imagery satellites which will be ready for launch next year,” Pixxel co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed told PTI.
Ahmed said many more rocket companies will launch their first orbital missions, creating a rocket-themed game of thrones as they compete for satellite customers.
The start-ups are eyeing the huge space applications market in the country, which was previously ISRO’s domain, carving a niche in earth imaging, developing rockets to launch small satellites, designing cheaper satellite fuels, and even planning to take tourists to space.
“The potential for innovative space applications is immense, especially if established aerospace companies form partnerships with businesses that traditionally haven’t ventured into orbit, e.g. pharmaceutical, agriculture companies,” DhruvaSpace Chief Financial Officer Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy told PTI.
DhruvaSpace launched two satellites, Thybolt 1 and 2, on ISRO’s PSLV C-54 mission to demonstrate amateur satellite communication for ham radio.
Surapureddy said DhurvaSpace won its first Rs 20 crore satellite contract.
Lt Gen A K Bhatt (retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA), told PTI that 100 Indian space startups have raised over USD 245.35 million.
ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota hosted Agnikul’s first launchpad and mission control centre.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) awarded Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited a Rs 860-crore contract to commercially develop the next five Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles in 2022. (PSLVS).
ISRO’s launch vehicle launched 36 OneWeb satellites from Sriharikota. 36 more satellites will launch next year. After the Ukraine conflict crippled Russian space launch capabilities, India aggressively bid for the ISRO OneWeb contract.
Research and Information System for Developing Countries space consultant Chaitanya Giri compares Indian space sector aggression to Sourav Ganguly’s cricket team.
“We were gentle like Mohammad Azharuddin’s cricket team. India’s geopolitical rise explains its new aggression. The Ukraine conflict has closed the Russian market. Chinese market too. So its an “Advantage India” Giri said.
He advised Indian startups to pursue international contracts instead of ISRO.
“ISRO will not support them.
Indian space startups, MSMEs, and big corporations must form business partnerships. B2B arrangements must expand, “Giri said.
