The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to gradually exit manufacturing launch vehicles and routine satellites, transferring these responsibilities to private companies and public-sector undertakings, IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka said at the Business Today summit. This shift aligns with the government’s push to promote privatisation in the space sector. ISRO will focus on research and development, advanced technologies, scientific missions, and specialised infrastructure instead, according to inc42.com.
Goenka stated that ISRO will stop making launch vehicles, with production moving entirely to the private sector or PSUs. The transition has begun with the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology being transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). IN-SPACe has invited private players to take over the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), India’s most powerful operational rocket, for end-to-end realisation, operation, and commercialisation, inc42.com reported.
This move is significant as it marks a strategic shift in India’s space industry, aiming to boost private sector participation and accelerate commercial space activities. By handing over mature technologies like SSLV, PSLV, and LVM3 to industry players, ISRO intends to concentrate on innovation and scientific exploration. The model mirrors global trends where space agencies focus on R&D while outsourcing manufacturing and operations to private firms, according to inc42.com.
The transfer of LVM3 technology to private entities is underway, with IN-SPACe actively engaging companies for its commercialisation. This development follows the SSLV handover to HAL and represents a key milestone in India’s space privatisation efforts, as reported by inc42.com.