The government has not allowed external agencies to use ISRO facilities, and only Non-Government Indian entities (NGEs) are being allowed to use these facilities and the technical support, as applicable, through IN-SPACe, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said today.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Singh said recent facilities used by NGEs include the Sounding Rocket Launch Complex at SHAR by Skyroot for its mission PRARAMBH and the Vertical Test Facility at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), Thiruvananthapuram by Agnikul Cosmos Pvt. Ltd. for hot testing of its engine – Agnilet.
He said the government envisages enhanced participation of the private sector in conducting end-to-end activities in the space sector. Participation of the private sector, including academic institutions, start-ups and industries in end-to-end space activities, is expected to expand the national space economy, generate more employment opportunities and create a thriving space ecosystem and result in increased Indian share in the global space economy in the long term.
To another question, Dr Jitendra Singh said the government was taking measures to augment domestic capacity for the future realisation of space tourism.
He said ISRO has also carried out a few feasibility studies for a sub-orbital space tourism mission onboard a liquid propellant stage booster.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that through Gaganyaan, India’s maiden human spaceflight programme, ISRO was engaged in the development of various technologies, which were essential building blocks for human space missions.
The Minister informed that the objective of the Gaganyaan programme was the demonstration of human spaceflight capability to Low earth orbit. Future missions would be taken up after the accomplishment of Gaganyaan mission, he added.
