Mint | Private sector participation in LVM3 production could mean a space sector boom

In a recent keynote address at a US- India Business Council event, the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), S. Somnath, spoke about the retirement of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (Nasa) Space Shuttle programme in 2011. For three decades, the Space Shuttle had ferried astronauts and satellites, even aided in building the International Space Station (ISS).  Read the full article here.

Firstpost | Agnikul’s first test flight: Time for private sector to be wings of Indian space industry

Agnikul’s first rocket, Agnibaan SOrTeD, completed its maiden suborbital test flight, marking a significant milestone for the Indian private space industry.

Accessing space is now easier than ever, creating new growth and innovation opportunities. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle ( SSLV ) to enable quick and flexible on-demand launches, complementing its existing fleet of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV) for heavier payloads. Read the full article here.

Deccan Herald | New guidelines could hamper India’s promising space industry

On May 3, space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) released new guidelines and procedures for space activity. These guidelines may have a detrimental effect on India’s emerging private space sector. Read the full article here.

Firstpost | How private sector can propel a new wave of space revolution in India

The Government of India amended the FDI policy for the space sector on 5 March 2024. This has liberalised thresholds for various space-related activities. This change comes on the heels of a slew of space reforms by the government that began in 2020. The reforms created a fertile ground for the cropping up of many space start-ups in the country but did not address their funding needs. While the FDI reforms have the potential to address this deficiency, they are insufficient in a vacuum. India’s share of the global space economy is $8 billion, and the government aims for a five-fold increase by 2040. To achieve this, the government will have to place larger bets. Read the full article here.

Spacepreneur | India's Space and Geospatial Policies: Unlocking New Horizons

ISRO has made moderate-resolution satellite remote sensing data up to 5m spatial resolution available for free to Indian citizens, which is even more than what NASA and ESA offer. This is in line with India's new Space Policy, approved in
April 2023, which aims to expand India's space capabilities, open remote sensing data, and create international partnerships. The policy encourages private businesses to participate in the space economy. Another part of this development is the National Geospatial Policy, which focuses on spatial technologies and aims to achieve significant progress by 2035. This includes conducting a comprehensive survey of India's land and water resources. Many government departments are involved in this policy, and it emphasizes the link between Space and Spatial Sciences, which plays a crucial role in resource management and national development. Both policies are intended to drive India's progress in space and geospatial sectors. Read the full article here.

The Hindu | Will signing Artemis Accords benefit India?

The story so far:

On June 21, India became the 27th signatory to the Artemis Accords, a set of non-binding guidelines that underpin the Artemis programme, a U.S.-led project to return humans to the moon permanently.

Read the full article here.

Times of India | How, finally, India is reaching for the Moon

On a remote patch of celestial wilderness near the moon’s south pole lies the wreck of the Chandrayaan-2 lander, a testament to the soaring ambitions of India’s lunar programme and the difficulties of achieving them. Its predecessor, the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter, made history in 2008 by confirming the presence of water ice on the moon. The more audacious Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 was to deploy a lander called Vikram. However, Vikram crash landed in a spray of lunar dust, leaving it, and the small rover inside, inoperable. Read the full article here.

The Hindu | Explained | India has signed the Artemis Accords. What is at stake?

On June 21, 2023, India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Taranjit Sandhu, leaned over a table at Washington, D.C.’s historic Willard Hotel to sign the document confirming India’s acceptance of the Artemis Accords. It was a relatively modest event amid a pageantry-filled state visit that has seen a slew of deals on technological cooperation. Like those other deals, India’s signing of the Artemis Accords was undoubtedly the result of careful preparatory work and hard-nosed quid pro quos. Read the full article here.

India Needs A Comprehensive Space Strategy

It will not only bolster inter-organisation coordination in India’s space sector, but also help in building investor confidence and projecting the country as a responsible space power

India’s growth and prosperity in the present era is due to its ability to secure its use of outer space. With the advent of the second space age, private NewSpace companies such as SpaceX are leading the charge, and not governmental civilian space agencies or militaries. However, as outlined in the Outer Space Treaty (OST), the existing international laws hold nation-states responsible for the actions and consequences of their private space companies, citizens, and functionaries.