India’s Space Sector rapidly expanding, driven by technological advancements and government support

By R Anil Kumar

• India’s space sector is rapidly expanding, driven by technological advancements and government support, with immense potential for growth and global collaboration

• Anticipated size of Indian space economy by 2040- $100 Bn

• Foreign satellites launched for 30+ nations including Germany, Canada, Netherlands, etc. in the last nine years-429

• Market Size of Satellite Manufacturing in India by 2033-$4.6 Bn

Sector Overview

Over the years, the Indian space sector has demonstrated remarkable technological prowess and accomplishments, displaying multifaceted potential and strategic significance. Launching satellites for communication, navigation, and earth observation, and interplanetary missions like the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) highlight the cost-effectiveness and reliable efficiency of the Indian Space Agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), making the agency first in Asia and fourth in the world to do so.

With Chandrayaan 3’s successful soft landing on the surface of the Moon in the South Pole area, India has opened avenues for collaboration and commercialization of space technologies. India has established partnerships with space agencies from various countries, such as the USA, UK, Singapore, and Germany, among others.

India has so far launched 429 foreign satellites, earning a revenue of $174 Mn. Enhancing self-reliance and fostering innovation in space technology, the ingenious satellite fleet, including navigation satellites like the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and communication satellites like the GSAT series, continue to expand, marking the trajectory of India’s growth in space.

Furthermore, Aditya L-1, India’s first space-based mission to study the sun, underscores the country’s commitment to space exploration for holistic global development and information purposes. The importance of this sector underpins the interlinkages of various sectors such as railways, agriculture, roads & highways, and telemedicine for geospatial information, indicating the country’s increased focus on innovative technologies through research and studies.

With an aim to tap a market potential of $44 Bn industry by 2033, capturing ~8% of the estimated global market, the Indian Space Sector is creating an ecosystem to reach exports worth $11 Bn by 2033 through private, public, and start-up collaborations.

The Indian Government has launched various initiatives and policy schemes, such as Indian Space Policy 2023, to augment the capabilities in technology development for the benefit of allied sectors, in addition to the inclusive socio-economic development of the nation.

The Seed Funding Scheme also aims to increase the private participation of companies, start-ups, and industrial corporations to supplement and enhance the expanding infrastructure in the space sector. Leaping forward in the journey to become a global leader, the space sector of India offers a plentitude of opportunities.

Why Invest inSpace

Cost-Efficient

Low-cost access to space with launch on demand through the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which provides an opportunity for build and launch setup

Manufacturing Clusters

Development of space manufacturing and clusters in Kerala and Tamil Nadu near launch stations

Human Resources

Highly experienced talent pool of aerospace engineers and skilled labour in the space sector

Robust Supply Chain

Robust supply chain of raw materials and component manufacturers

India targets 8 to 10 per cent share in the commercial satellite launch market, says ISRO chief

The Indian space sector is aiming to achieve an 8 to 10 per cent share in the global commercial space market over the next 10 years, and for that, a lot of work needs to be done, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said.

In an exclusive talk with R. Anil Kumar, Narayanan said India needs to improve infrastructure, industry-led development, and manufacturing capabilities.

At present, India’s share in the global commercial space market is less than 2 per cent.

“In the initial phase of our activities, we were not focusing on the commercial aspect. But today, we are in the commercial field,” Narayanan said.

He said India’s OneWeb India Mission helped improve the country’s commercial credibility—a project indigenously developed due to geopolitical reasons following the Ukraine war.

“Using one rocket, we had to place 36 satellites into orbit. Achieving a difference of just a few centimetres in orbital placement is not an easy task. We accomplished it through a unique scheme, demonstrating a commercially successful mission. It surprised the entire international community,” he said.

He added that India has so far carried out 14 commercial launches.

“A country that did not have satellite technology, launch vehicle technology, or application-oriented capability 50 years ago has now launched 433 satellites for 32 countries. So, we are in the game,” he said.

Narayanan said ISRO would soon launch a 6,500-kg commercial satellite from the United States using its Mark III rocket, the last of three missions India is undertaking in coordination with NASA.

India had successfully launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite—the costliest satellite launched so far—on July 30 using the Mark II F16 rocket.

The ISRO chairman said that since the Prime Minister rolled out space sector reforms to encourage public-private partnerships, capacity building has been steadily increasing.

“Ten years ago, we hardly had one startup working in the space area. Today, we have over 300 startups operating in the sector,” Narayanan said.

He noted that demand for space-based services has been rising across sectors.

“For example, earlier, if someone approached a bank for an agricultural loan, officials had to physically verify the land and the crops being cultivated. Now, they can assess the data in real time. Similarly, in the event of a drought, real-time assessments can be done from indoors, instead of through physical surveys.

“A lot of real-time data processing is happening, and data with up to five-centimetre resolution is available free of cost. People can process this data and use it for multiple purposes,” he added.

He said other countries are now approaching India for their space requirements, recognizing the country’s technological advancements.

“Don’t think India is the India of 1947. Today, we are a spacefaring, dynamic nation. For example, on the 30th of last month, we launched NASA’s NISAR satellite, worth ₹10,300 crore. NASA came to India for the launch. That shows our technological capability, advancement, and the precision with which our people work. This is what’s motivating other countries to come to us,” he said.

When asked whether ongoing trade restrictions and tariff policies under the Trump administration might affect space collaboration between India and the U S, Narayanan said the subject is beyond his “domain of expertise”.

“These two things—politics and science—have to be separated. I am a technocrat, and that question is beyond my domain,” he said.

However, the ISRO chief added, “Technologically, we are in an advanced state. So whatever contracts we have signed, we are going to execute. That is all I can comment on.”

Welcoming the Public-Private Partnership model in the Indian space sector, Narayanan said ISRO alone cannot meet growing market demand, and the private sector has a significant role to play.

“When I joined ISRO, there used to be one launch every three years. This year, we plan to have one launch every month. Now, you may ask why we need so many launches. So far, we have developed 132 satellites, of which 55 are currently in orbit, serving the people of this country.

“These services ensure national safety and security. Do you know how many satellites are required for that? Two years ago, our counterparts deployed 100 satellites in a single year. The demand for satellite technology is enormous,” Narayanan said.

He projected that in another three years, ISRO may need to have three times the current number of satellites in orbit to meet demand.

“ISRO alone cannot do this. It is a government organisation. Over the last 10 years, our manpower has grown by less than five per cent. That’s why the private sector needs to step in, in a big way,” he said.

He concluded by stating that, based on current demand, India should be launching three rockets per month to meet the country’s requirements.

ISRO Planning to Establish Lunar Sample Curation Facility for The Chandrayaan-4 Mission

ISRO is set to establish a state-of-the-art lunar sample curation facility as part of its Chandrayaan-4 mission, aimed at the safe handling, long-term preservation, and contamination-free storage of lunar soil and rock samples brought back from the Moon.

The facility will be equipped with advanced instruments and contamination-control systems to maintain the integrity of the samples, enabling detailed scientific analysis of their mineral composition and geological history to gain insights into the Moon’s formation. The curation environment will have controlled low humidity and clean rooms compliant with international standards.

Chandrayaan-4, approved by the Indian government with a budget of over ₹2100 crore and expected to launch by 2027, is designed as a complex multi-module lunar sample return mission that will include heavy-lift launch vehicles, precision rendezvous and docking systems, robotic drills and scoops for sample collection, robotic arms for transfer, autonomous ascent and re-entry technologies, and heat-shielded modules for safe Earth return.

The mission will use two launches carrying five modules, which will dock in Earth orbit before heading to the Moon. On lunar orbit arrival, the descender module will land and collect samples, the ascender will lift off and dock with orbiting modules, and finally, a return module will bring the sealed, leak-proof sample containers back to Earth.

Adhering to the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy, Chandrayaan-4 falls in a category that does not require stringent biological contamination controls but will still ensure meticulous contamination control during sample handling.

This mission demonstrates critical technologies such as human-rated vehicles, docking mechanisms, high-capacity landers, re-entry methods, and robotic systems, paving the way for India’s future crewed lunar explorations and scientific advancements.

The mission also involves coordination with multiple Indian research and academic institutions, driven by ISRO’s broader lunar exploration roadmap aiming for India’s first human spaceflight mission to the Moon by 2040.

The lunar sample curation facility and the mission itself represent a significant milestone in India’s space capabilities, with rigorous simulation, ground tests, and scientific collaborations planned to ensure success.