India to Allow Private Firms to Build and Operate Launch Sites

BENGALURU: India, as part of the ongoing space reforms, will allow Indian private companies to establish and operate their own launch sites and pads aside from permitting launch of their own vehicles and missions that involve re-entry of objects.

This is part of the new draft National Space Transportation Policy released by the Department of Space (DoS) and Isro, which aims to provide opportunities for Indian entities to capture a share of the global launch services market while Government agencies accelerate focused R&D to build space transportation capabilities for future space endeavours along with commercial exploitation.

Arguing that the new policy is aimed at creating a fertile environment for Indian companies to develop launch vehicles and launch from India, K Sivan, secretary, DoS, told TOI: “Apart from building and launching launch vehicles, private players can have their own launch sites where they build launch pads. Or, they can build launch pads on our launch sites so that they have more options. They can also lease out launch pads.”

The policy also proposes unlocking space transportation technologies, facilities already developed or established by Isro so as to promote and foster a sustainable environment for the private sector. DoS will be sharing a host of technologies developed for space transportation systems — critical materials, components, systems etc — which have potential applications in the respective launch vehicles developed by Indian firms.

“The increasing number of startups seeking to develop independent space launch systems require a seamless technological and regulatory pathway so that the private ecosystem can prosper while also bringing innovative technologies,” the policy reads.

Sivan explained that apart from building their own launch vehicles and related technologies of space transportation, private firms can also tie-up with Isro and be part of futuristic programmes in space transportation.

Further, the policy seeks to continue & encourage partnerships and collaborations with international space agencies for the joint development of technologies for future space transportation systems.

“The policy seeks to encourage partnerships and collaborations among Indian industry, academia & international space agencies for mutually beneficial research and technology development in space transportation,” it reads.

Industry Reaction

Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder, Agnikul Cosmos, which is working on a launch vehicle said: “The policy is very comprehensive covering everything from launching, re-entry, launch sites/pads and it has been very well thought through. Second, all authorisation is with IN-SPACe as a nodal agency, which is good as we now have a single-window clearance system. And finally, the specifics of what exactly is needed from the private industry to get authorisation have been detailed.”

Independent experts TOI spoke with also said that the policy is thorough in its approach and indicates the seriousness of the proposed reforms. However, they urged that the government complete the procedures of appointing the chairman and board of IN-SPACe so as to make it operational.
Naga Bharath Daka, COO, Skyroot Aerospace, another firm building launch vehicles, while echoing Ravichandran’s views, said: “The policy is structurally well made and a welcoming draft covering all plausible scenarios of operation for a private launch vehicle company. However, it would have been helpful if more clarity was provided with regard to timeline for processing respective applications and also regarding Indemnity caps with regard to insurance cover needed towards fulfilment of national and third party liabilities.”

Source: ToI