SPACE VISION

The government will focus on R&D and ambitious missions, such as human spaceflight, while operational responsibilities increasingly transition to the private sector

- S. SOMANATH

INDIA'S CONTRIBUTION to the global space economy is currently just 2%, which highlights the need for significant growth. One of our key goals is to increase this share to 10% over the next decade. To achieve this, we are prioritising public-private partnerships (PPPs), enabling start-ups and other companies to play a larger role in space activities.

That includes transferring operational tasks to private players, encouraging private missions, and supporting start-ups in every aspect of the space sector. Additionally, we are supporting foreign direct investment and introducing new PPP models under NewSpace India Limited.

We have created a comprehensive 25-year road map, called the Space Vision, which outlines ambitious goals, including an Indian landing on the Moon by 2040. This requires several precursor activities, such as the continued Chandrayaan programme. Another major initiative is the development of a space station, which we aim to operationalise by 2035, along with extending the human space programme. We are also focussing on application-oriented programmes by involving user communities in areas like communication and Earth observation satellite launches. This approach will expand the commercialisation of data and revenue generation opportunities in the sector.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has a rich history of collaboration with global players such as NASA, CNES (France), Roscosmos (Russia), and JAXA (Japan). These partnerships have been pivotal in technology acquisition and joint missions. Our focus is now expanding to include emerging space nations, helping their industries connect with India's space ecosystem.