World Space Week 2024: Private Space Tech Companies Important To Achieve ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ in Space Exploration

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched an Advanced Earth Orbiting Satellite (EOS-08). The primary objective of the mission was to design and develop micro-satellites, with expertise in remote sensing ocean surface wind, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland water body detection.

However, the launch of the satellite EOS-08 was not as smooth as it seemed. Initially, EOS-08 was to be launched by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV D3) in August 2022. But its first attempt failed when the satellite entered the wrong orbit and ultimately fell back to Earth. On its second flight in February 2024, the SSLV also bounced back.

Finally, on the third flight in August 2024, the SSLV rocket deployed the satellite into the correct circular orbit. This marked the establishment of an advanced satellite with remote sensing power for the next year, for India.

What is certainly unique about the mission is that the satellite was designed by ISRO, taking a step towards ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ in space technology. Yet, ISRO alone cannot complete the target of creating all space technology within the country. The dream of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ can only take its full form when government bodies work along with the variety of private players in the market.

As the country celebrates World Space Week 2024, how can India take its idea of ‘AtmaNirbhar’ space technology solutions ahead? And how important are private players to actually achieve Atma Nirbhar Bharat?

Need for Space Technology In India

India has started requiring better space technology for its own necessities. This need is very domestic and has emerged because of many factors like climate change around India’s coastline, security conflicts with bordering countries like China and lack of usable up-to-date data. So, there is definitely a need for more indigenous and innovative satellite solutions. But the problem is that this need is not coupled with necessary investment from the government.

Space StartUps fail to perform well over the years because there is always scarcity of orders they receive from government agencies like ISRO and IN SPACe. Other than some big foreign giants that rule the space tech market in India, not many startup companies are able to make big profits. They are also usually left behind in competing with public sector space companies like NewSpace India Ltd.

This conflict between high need and reduced rate of orders from Indian government agencies can see a resolve as the new budget allows for 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in space tech.

The Way Forward Towards Space

Earlier, space technology ventures were not able to perform effectively because of government restrictions, lack of orders, and limited knowledge on technology.

But with the higher limit of foreign direct investment permitted in space solutions being pushed to hundred percent, half of the problem is solved. Also, the need for bigger satellites is now lesser than the need for smaller satellites required to monitor local geographies. So there is a new need created in India, for more specialized satellites to monitor pollution, climate change and security.

What more can be done by the government is creation of a conducive environment for more research and development in space technology and aeronautics. Alongside, government agencies should facilitate transfer of technology between countries so that developing nations like India can also innovate and reach Space. This is where the individual philosophy of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ needs to make way for a ‘world as family’ based philosophy of ‘Vasudev Kutumbhakam’. Which one to choose?