For the first time, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has opened its satellite centre to private companies in its 50-year history. In this maiden move private company or college people will test their satellite at UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bangalore.
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ISRO has currently allowed only two satellites. One of these is from a private company, the other is from students. In the next few months, two private companies will test their engines at Space Port in Sriharikota and Rocket Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.
ISRO will give its satellite images to a private company that works for mapping services. ISRO chief, K. Sivan has said, “more and more private companies will take advantage of our facilities. ISRO is ready to work with private companies. But we want these companies to come forward with technological innovation. This will uplift the stature of the country globally in the space sector. We want to be in the centre of space activity in the world.”
Sivan said that the URSC had also investigated the UNITYsat. There was a problem with its separation system. Our scientists also rectified this problem. UNITYsat has been created by the students of GH Raisoni College of Engineering, Jeppiar Institute of Technology and Sri Shakti Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Chennai based Agnikul Cosmos has been allowed to test its engines at the rocket centre at Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace got the permission to test engine spaceport, Sriharikota.
Proposals under consideration
Also, MapMyIndia, which provides digital maps and GIS services are in contact with ISRO.The firm is asking for high-resolution images from ISRO. Overall, 26 such proposals are lying with ISRO which are under consideration. These proposals include US-based Amazon Web Services and Proposals have also come from the UK-based One Web, run by the Bharti Group. These proposals are being reviewed by the In-SPACe (National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre).