Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working out a business model for a larger participation from the private sector in the space programme so that its manpower can concentrate on new developments and research, according to K Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO.
Nearly 400 companies, including large, medium and micro size, make several elements of a launch vehicle, including fabrication, testing and assembling. In operational programmes like PSLV and GSLV, the industry has taken higher responsibility in integrating the satellites.
When asked if it will be a public-private partnership model, Radhakrishnan said “I don’t want to say one model. We will have a model that will work in India. Unlike other industries, a unique model is required for the space industry. There is a model in the US, Europe but we want to evolve something for India that will work in this local environment,” he said.
“We are working out the possible models on the investment required, sharing of responsibilities and technology transfer. The response has been positive from both private and public sectors towards that goal. This will take 3-4 years,” he told newspersons after the successful launch of PSLV-C24 rocket here from the Satish Dhwan Space Centre.
Radhakrisnan said ISRO plans to spend nearly ₹6,000 crore in 2014-15 on various space and research programmes. This will be part of the ₹39,570 crore out lay given to the Department of Space between 2012 and 2017 during which period nearly 60 missions are being planned.
In the first year of the five-year period, a sum of ₹3,650 crore was spent, in the second year it was increased to ₹4,000 crore and third year to ₹6,000 crore.
ISRO Chairman said experimental mission of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is scheduled to be launched in June.
This is intended to launch heavy satellites into geostationary orbit, and will allow India to become less dependent on foreign rockets for heavy lifting.
Studying starsAfter last year’s successful Mars mission, ISRO has now set its eyes on studying stars and the Sun.
“We are developing Astrosat, a smaller version of Hubble Space Telescope to study the stars,” said Kiran Kumar, Director, Space Application Centre, ISRO. The centre deals with various disciplines comprising design and development of payloads, societal applications, capacity building and space sciences.
Astrosat is getting ready with features like Ultraviolet rays, visible and X rays.ISRO director K. Radhakrishnan said the Astrosat is likely to be launched next year.
Kumar said plans to send Aditya satellite to study the sun is progressing well, and it will take two to three years to launch it. It will study Sun's corona emissions to help space scientists understand the head of the solar system.
On the Mars Mission launched last year, he said the orbiter is 35 million km away and the delay in sending and receiving signals is about two minutes. “We are regularly checking the health of the satellite and it is satisfactory,” he said.
The mission is expected to reach Mars orbit by September 24, he said.