Centre forms IN-SPACe to guide private sector in space activities

The Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh on June 24 announced that a new institution- Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has been formed. The institution will guide the private industries in the space activities with the help of encouraging policies in a friendly regulatory environment.

The Union Minister informed that Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorisation Centre is not a new institution but now its role has been extended into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He added that they will supplement each other’s work and will not work at cross purposes.

Jitendra Singh further explained that ISRO is the basic organization-what projects or activities, or missions will be carried out, it will play a key role. But the new facility will be able to fill the gap and fulfill the demand mode.

Pathbreaking historic decision by #Cabinet:
Newly created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. Also handhold,promote & guide pvt players in #Space activities. pic.twitter.com/6jkP8OQDA6

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 24, 2020

"Today's decision in #CabinetMeeting chaired by PM Sh @narendramodi is a true tribute to our founding father #VikramSarabhai who visualized space technology becoming pan India. The proposed reform will enhance socioeconomic use of space assets and activities. pic.twitter.com/zgGRXHGmcm

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 24, 2020

PMO’s release on IN-SPACe:

The union cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24 approved the far-reaching reforms in the space sector. These reforms aim at boosting private sector participation in the entire range of space activities.

As per the release from Prime Minister’s Office, the newly created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) will be able to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.

It will also promote, hand-hold, and guide the private industries in space activities through a friendly regulatory environment and friendly policies.

What change IN-SPACe will bring?

The ‘New Space Indian Limited’ (NSIL), which is a public sector enterprise will help to re-orient space activities from a supply-driven model to a demand-driven model, thereby ensuring optimum utilization of the space assets.

The reforms will also allow ISRO to focus more on the research and development activities, exploration missions, new technologies, and the Human Space flight programme. Some of the planetary exploration missions will also open up to the private sector through an ‘announcement of opportunity’ mechanism.

The reform will not only result in the accelerated growth of the space sector but it will also enable the Indian industry to be an important player in the global space economy. With IN-SPACE, there is an opportunity for large scale employment in the technology sector as well as it will help India in becoming a global technology powerhouse.