NEW DELHI, Dec 16 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha today that ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is earning from commercial launch of foreign satellites. It has launched 342 foreign satellites on a commercial basis from 34 countries. These satellites were successfully launched on board Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), he added.
The Minister, in another reply, informed the House that during 2021-2023, ISRO will be earning 132 Million Euros through launching of foreign satellites on a commercial basis, which amounts to over Rs 1,135 crore. ISRO has signed six agreements with four countries for launching foreign satellites during 2021-2023.
ISRO through its commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), a Govt. of India Company under Department of Space (DoS), has been launching satellites belonging to other countries on-board Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), on a commercial basis.
NSIL as on date has signed six Launch Service Agreements with customers from four countries for launching foreign satellites into space on-board PSLV during 2021-2023.
A total number of 124 indigenous satellites have been put into Earth’s orbit including 12 student satellites.
The Minister said that through launching of foreign satellites on-board Indian launch vehicles, India has earned a Foreign Exchange revenue of approx. 35 Million USD and 10 Million Euros during the last 3 years (i.e., 2019- 2021). The type of foreign satellites that were launched through Indian Launch Vehicle includes satellites primarily for Earth Observation, Scientific and Technology demonstration purposes.
In another reply in the Rajya Sabha , DrJitendra Singh informed that the SSLV will provide a payload capability of 500 kg to a 500 km planar orbit.
The Minister said that the development of SSLV is in the final stages and the first developmental flight of SSLV is targeted during the first quarter of 2022. He said, the Government has sanctioned a total cost of Rs.169 Crores for the development project including the development & qualification of the vehicle systems and the flight demonstration through three development flights (SSLV-D1, SSLV-D2 & SSLV-D3).
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the hardware & structures for the SSLV development project including the solid motor cases, nozzle sub-systems, mandrels for the casting of solid motors, inter-stage structures, actuator motors & fixtures will be realised through private industry.
The development of SSLV has been primarily envisaged to realise a cost-effective launch vehicle with high launch frequency and quick turnaround capability in order to cater to the growing opportunity in the global launch services market for small satellites.
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