ISRO bodies seek clarity on privatisation role, launch vehicles, future roles and more amid private space push: Report
A total of nine bodies reportedly submitted a letter on September 4, in a collective effort for the first time since the government began opening the sector to private industry about six years ago.
Nine employee bodies representing ISRO staff have formally expressed concerns over the privatisation of the space agency. In a joint representation dated September 4, they requested written clarification from the chairman of the Space Commission. The employees argued that private participation in commercial activities could coexist with a strong, publicly owned ISRO, but a policy reducing ISRO to a R&D boutique and transferring launch vehicles and launch infrastructure to the private sector is unacceptable.
They emphasized that ISRO's technology is a national asset and that the transition must be transparent and accountable. The employee bodies sought clarity on whether IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka's statement about ISRO not manufacturing launch vehicles represents an approved government decision and asked for further details about its approval and authority.
They also inquired about the future role of ISRO, including whether design, development, realization, integration, testing, and launch of launch vehicles will continue or cease. The employee representatives emphasized that ISRO was built as a national scientific institution with public funds, purpose, and workforce, and that its core competence lies in launch-vehicle design, realization, integration, testing, and launch operations.
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