INDIA'S FIRST PRIVATE SATELLITE VEHICLE-VIKRAM-S
1. Context
India's first privately developed launch vehicle is set to make its maiden flight from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) launch pad at Sriharikota between November 12 and 16. The mission, of Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, is called 'Prarambh' (the beginning) and will carry two Indian and one foreign customer payloads on the launch vehicle named 'Vikram'.
2. Prarambh Mission
- It will mark the beginning of private sector launches in India. The development of privately built rockets and satellites received a boost, especially after the finance minister opened the space sector to private participation in 2020. Skyroot will be the first private company to launch its rocket.
- Other companies and missions
- Agnikul Cosmos tested its semi-cryogenic Agnilet engine.
- ISRO's small satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is also likely to be manufactured and operated by private players soon.
- Private satellite mission launched by ISRO. ISRO's heaviest launch vehicle Mark III launched 36 OneWeb satellites (India's Bharti is a stakeholder). ISRO will be launching another fleet of 36 satellites for the company as well. The space agency has also launched at least four satellites made by students.
3. About Vikram-S
- The Vikram-S rocket is a single-stage suborbital launch vehicle that would carry three customers' payloads.
- Suborbital flight is those vehicles travel slower than the orbital velocity, meaning it is fast enough to reach outer space but not fast enough to stay in an orbit around the Earth.
- It would help test and validate most of the Vikram series of space launch vehicle technologies.
- Sky root has been working on three different Vikram rocket versions.
- The Vikram-I can launch with 480 kilograms of payload, whereas the Vikram-II is designed to do so with 595 kilos and Vikram-III has a 500 km Low Inclination Orbit launch capability with 815 Kg.
4. The need for satellite launch vehicles like Vikram
- The timeline of the launch would be directed by this larger, primary, satellite, whose interests would take precedence. But with more and more businesses, government agencies, even universities, and laboratories beginning to send satellites- nearly all of them falling in this category of small satellites- to space, the constraints of a piggyback ride have started to hurt.
- The demand for the launch of small satellites has increased at a rapid pace in the last eight to ten years, thanks to the ever-growing need for space-based data, communication, surveillance, and commerce. The need for satellite data, imageries, and space technology now cut across sectors, from weather to agriculture to transport to urban development.
- In India, ISRO is capable of launching satellites into space and the demand is fast outrunning its capacity, especially as the space agency also has other, larger goals it needs to focus on. Therefore, the sector is being opened up to private players, with ISRO helping them with facilities and knowledge. The use of facilities can be chargeable, providing ISRO with revenue.
5. Need for privatization of the space sector in India
- The global space industry is valued at 400 billion US dollars and has the potential to become a 1 trillion-dollar industry by 2040.
- India needs to increase its share in the global space industry and the private sector will play a big role in that.
- New fields like space tourism and space diplomacy need to be explored to walk shoulder to shoulder with other advanced nations.
- India is working on a New Indian Space Policy for coordinating between government companies, space industries, start-ups, and institutions.
6. What is Skyroot Aerospace?
Skyroot, a two-time national award winner, is the first start-up to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISRO to launch a rocket into space.
Skyroot Aerospace has so far raised $68 million and it is India's most funded private space startup.
It is among the first companies to locally build fully 3D-printed rocket engines and successfully tested the same in November last year.
7. IN-SPACe
- In-SPACe is an autonomous and single window nodal agency in the Department of Space for the promotion, encouragement, and regulation of space activities of both government and private entities.
- IN-SPACe will act as a single window, the independent nodal agency to take care of all the needs of the private sector.
- It also facilitates the usage of ISRO facilities by private entities.
- The establishment of IN-SPACe was announced in June 2020.
8. Beyond IN-SPACe: NSIL
The government has announced the setting up of a New Space India Limited (NSIL), a public sector company that would serve as a marketing arm of ISRO.
Its main purpose is to market the technologies developed by ISRO and bring it more clients that need space-based services with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high-technology space-related activities.
8.1 NSIL Mandate
- Owing satellites for the Earth Observation and communication application and providing space-based services.
- Building satellites and launching them as per demand. Providing Launch Services for satellites belonging to customers.
- Building launch vehicles through Indian Industry and launching as per satellite customer requirements.
- Space-Based services related to Earth Observation and Communication satellites on a commercial basis.
- Technology transfer to the Indian industry.
9. ISpA
- Indian Space Association (ISpA) was launched in 2021, an industry body consisting of various stakeholders in the Indian space domain. The members of the organization include government bodies such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and private telecom companies such as Bharati Airtel's One Web, Tata Group's Nelcom, L& T, MapMyIndia, and others.
- One of the main goals of the organization is to supplement the government's efforts toward making India a global leader in commercial space-based excursions.
For Prelims & Mains
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For Prelims: Skyroot Aerospace, Indian Space Association (ISpA), New Space India Limited (NSIL), ISRO, IN-SPACe, Vikram-S.
For Mains: 1. What are the key features of Vikram-S mission and explain the Need for privatization of the space sector in India?
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Source: The Indian Express
