Space policy draws cautious optimism
The Hindu
This will mean developing new space technologies and applications “…to maintain India’s edge” in the areas of space infrastructure, space transportation, space applications, capacity building and human spaceflight.
The Centre’s updated Space Policy, cleared by the Union Cabinet on April 6 but made public on Thursday has drawn measured optimism from the India’s budding private sector start-up space.
The Indian Space Policy-2023 creates four distinct, but related entities, that will facilitate greater private sector participation in activities that have usually been the traditional domain of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
“To augment space capabilities; enable, encourage and develop a flourishing commercial presence in space; use space as a driver of technology development and derived benefits in allied areas; pursue international relations, and create an ecosystem for effective implementation of space applications among all stakeholders,” the policy says.
InSPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) will be a “single window” clearance and authorisation agency for space launches, establishing launch pads, buying and selling satellites, and disseminating high-resolution data among other things.
It will also develop space industry standards, promote identified space activities and work with academia to widen the space ecosystem and enable industry-academia linkages.
ISRO will focus on research into outer space. This will mean developing new space technologies and applications “…to maintain India’s edge” in the areas of space infrastructure, space transportation, space applications, capacity building and human spaceflight.
It will also share technologies, products, processes and best practices with NGEs (non-government entities and this will include private companies) and government companies.