ISRO, INSPACe Sign MoU With Vyom Space To Develop Space Technology With Focus On Human Spaceflight

The MoU was signed to develop niche technology in the field of space, with special focus on a human and cargo transportation capsule programme, ISRO said Tuesday. 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (INSPACe), an autonomous agency under the Department of Space, Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with private firm Vyom Space Exploration and Services on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. The MoU was signed to develop niche technology in the field of space, with special focus on a human and cargo transportation capsule programme, ISRO said Tuesday. 

Vyom Space is being incubated under Joint Services Innovation and Indigenisation Centre, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS). The MoU is intended for joint development of strategic technology in the field of space. 

 

Developments in Gaganyaan Programme

ISRO successfully completed the Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) of Gaganyaan's crew module deceleration system on November 18, 2022, marking a significant milestone for the Gaganyaan Programme.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, where many Gaganyaan activities are being carried out, conducted this major development test at the Babina Field Fire Range (BFFR) in Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh. 

The Gaganyaan Programme aims to demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human spaceflight missions to low-Earth orbit.

Future ISRO missions

Recently, ISRO Chairman S Somanath said the space agency plans to fly all its rockets with various satellites in the coming months. India's launch vehicles are the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3), and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). 

Somanath also said that next year, NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, has planned two launches, news agency PTI reported.

One of these launches will be in collaboration with London-based satellite communications company OneWeb. The mission will launch 36 OneWeb satellites into space, and will be the second batch of OneWeb satellites launched in collaboration with ISRO and NSIL.

Somanath also said that ISRO aims to launch the Aditya-L1 mission in 2023. 

The Aditya L1 is set to become the first Indian mission to study the Sun. A 400-kilogram satellite will be launched to a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system. Langrangian points are points in space where objects sent there tend to stay put, with L1 being the most significant. L1 is located 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. 

Since Aditya L1 will be placed around L1, it can continuously view the Sun. The satellite will be equipped with a total of seven payloads, including the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph.

Commercial projects completed in collaboration with ISRO

Last month, Indian space-tech firm Agnikul Cosmos launched the country's first private launchpad and mission control centre inside ISRO's campus at Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Agnikul Cosmos, a private aerospace manufacturer, has designed the launchpad, and will operate it.

On November 18, 2022, ISRO launched India's first privately developed launch vehicle, Vikram-S, as part of the Prarambh mission. Prarambh was the maiden mission of Hyderabad-based space-tech startup Skyroot Aerospace, and received support from ISRO as well as INSPACe.

Why a new era beckons Indian space sector

India is ushering in a new era in space, due to the efforts of ISRO, reforms in the commercial space sector, and the emergence of deep space tech startups. Skyroot Aerospace, AgniKul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, SpaceKidz India, Bellatrix Aerospace, Aantriksh, Astrogate Labs, Kawa Space, Blue Sky Analytics, Vellon Space, and SatSure are some of the Indian space tech startups aiming to bring a revolution in the space sector. 

Indian space economy

The Indian space economy is projected to grow to $12.8466 billion by 2025, according to a joint report by Ernst & Young (EY) and the Indian Space Association (ISpA), the apex industry body created to be the collective voice of the Indian space industry. 

The Indian space segments which contribute to the country's space economy are satellite manufacturing, launch services, ground segment and satellite services. Satellite manufacturing is projected to have a market value of $3.2 billion by 2025, ground segment a market value of $4 billion, launch services a market value of $1,046.6 million, and satellite services a market value of $4.6 billion, the report states. 

Space startups, space parks and satellite manufacturing services will play a major role in boosting the Indian space economy.