Title: Private Companies: A Driving Force in India’s Future Space Missions by Dr. Kiran Kakade

Source:https://www.space.com

Introduction:
India’s journey into space exploration has reached new heights, with private companies emerging as significant partners. V.K. Saraswat, a member of NITI Aayog and a distinguished defence scientist, believes that private companies will play a major role in India’s future space missions, including those destined for Mars and Venus. In an interview, Saraswat emphasized India’s technical capabilities, global aspirations, and the need for scaling up to capture a larger share of the global space economy.

Private Sector’s Crucial Role:
Saraswat envisions a future where private companies will actively participate in India’s space endeavors. He expects that future programs such as the Gaganyaan (manned space mission), missions to Mars and Venus, will see substantial contributions from the private sector. This collaboration could involve the supply of sub-systems, components, devices, and even joint partnerships for significant launches. Saraswat’s perspective underscores the government’s initiative to open up the space sector to private enterprises, resulting in the emergence of multiple companies engaged in satellite technology, launch vehicles, and subsystems.

India’s Self-Reliance and Technical Prowess:
Saraswat strongly asserts that India’s technological prowess in space is on par with the best in the world. He highlights India’s recent achievement of landing Chandrayaan-3 on the moon’s south pole as a testament to the country’s strength and self-reliance in space exploration. Saraswat believes that the success of missions like Gaganyaan will propel India even further, opening up possibilities for space stations and deep space probes.

Private Sector’s Innovations:
Private companies are already making notable contributions to the Indian space ecosystem. Startups are playing a pivotal role by offering innovative solutions, ideas, and technologies that augment the growth of the space sector. Collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), startups are participating in various projects, bringing technological expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to the table. ISRO’s support to startups includes technology transfer for specialized components and the provision of launch sites for trial runs of private players’ launch vehicles.

Challenges and the Road Ahead:
While India’s achievements are commendable, Saraswat acknowledges the need for scaling up and building greater capacity. He believes that India’s current launch vehicle capabilities are on par with the world’s best. However, scaling up payload capacity remains a priority. Additionally, challenges related to value addition in domestic laptop and desktop manufacturing need to be addressed to fully tap into India’s vast market potential.

Conclusion:
India’s ambition in the space sector is poised for remarkable growth, driven by collaborations with private companies and a government keen on fostering innovation. The participation of private players in various aspects of space technology, from satellite development to launch vehicles, signifies a dynamic shift in India’s space exploration narrative. With support from both public and private sectors, India is well on its way to solidifying its position as a significant player in the global space economy and unlocking new frontiers of exploration.

Author Details:                        Dr. Kiran S. Kakade         (Ph.D., MBA(HR), LL.M., MCA)  Associate Professor (HR),LLIM ,   Mumbai University,  Website:-  http://www.drkirankakade.com