ISRO responds to staff questions: Ecosystem expanding, pvt sector won’t shrink our role

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has clarified that it remains the principal institution for advanced space research in India, despite the participation of the private sector in the country's space sector. This response comes after concerns were raised by employee associations questioning the direction of ISRO's privatisation drive and its impact on the existing workforce.

ISRO stated that the opening up of the space sector, as outlined in the Indian Space Policy 2023 and progressive FDI policies, aims to create a larger, stronger, and globally competitive Indian space ecosystem. The agency emphasized that the reforms should be seen as an expansion of the ecosystem and a multiplication of capabilities, rather than privatisation.

ISRO will continue to focus on frontier technologies, such as frontier research and development, advanced technologies, human spaceflight, next-generation launch systems, deep-space and planetary missions, and strategic national capabilities. Mature and routinely manufactured systems, such as production of launch vehicles, routine satellites, and other established systems, can increasingly be scaled through industry.

This approach allows ISRO to devote more resources and scientific manpower to the next generation of technologies and missions. India's ambitions in space include establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, undertaking an Indian crewed mission to the Moon by 2040, developing next-generation and reusable launch systems, pursuing sustained lunar and planetary exploration, and establishing India as a major global space power.

The space economy in India is currently estimated at around $8.4 billion, representing a relatively small share of the rapidly expanding global space economy.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express - India's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.