Ever since our independence back in 1947, the Indian space industry has been under the hands of the government, predominantly the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). No other player has traditionally been allowed to delve into this industry even if they had the required motivation and finances. But the space sector is facing a revolution, with the government opening doors to private players to participate in the rapidly growing global space economy which is projected to touch a valuation of USD 1.87 Trillion by 2032[1]. The Department of Space has provided a pivotal position to an organization called IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) to provide the thrust that Indian private space sector needs.
What is IN-SPACe?
Established as recently as 2020, IN-SPACe was developed with the sole motive of facilitating private sector participation by acting as a single window nodal agency between the government and the startups. The organization aims to develop infrastructure in the form of launchpads, satellites, ground stations etc. and also act as a quasi-regulator as it has the power to grant authorizations, necessary approvals to non-governmental entities and ensure compliance with national and international regulations. With IN-SPACe spearheading private sector integration, numerous opportunities have emerged in sectors such as satellite development, aircraft launch, space-based applications and the most interesting one, space tourism and exploration.
What Startup activities require Authorization?
The Indian Space Policy 2023 provides for registration of startups who want to indulge in fields such as establishment and/or operation of a space object, space transportation, planned re-entry of space objects, establishment and/or operation of the ground systems, dissemination of space-based earth observation/remote sensing data, or sale/purchase/transfer of space objects in orbit.
How can a Company start their Space Entrepreneurship Journey?
IN-SPACe performs the task of performing the necessary checks before a startup is allowed to enter the space exploration industry. The authorization process has been streamlined in the Indian Space Policy 2023 which is as follows:
1. Submission of the online application on IN-SPACe Digital Platform.
2. IN-SPACe performs the necessary scrutiny for every application including credentials and capability of the startup.
3. Providing acknowledgement to the applicant, informing whether the application is accepted for further processing or otherwise.
4. The application is scrutinised by IN-SPACe, as per its internally defined mechanism, on the basis of safety, national security, technical, radio frequency (RF) interference, compliances to national & international regulatory guidelines, state’s liability towards third party damage from the Indian space object, international obligations, geopolitical considerations and relations with foreign countries, export & import regulations, foreign shareholding, and/or any other considerations deemed necessary by IN-SPACe, as applicable.
5. If IN-SPACe is satisfied with the company’s capabilities, it issues a provisional authorization/advisory note to the applicant to enable them to initiate the approval/clearance/licenses process with other relevant ministries.
6. Ultimately, the final status of the application is communicated to the applicant company by IN-SPACe after completing the necessary internal approval process.
The general timeline envisaged for processing the application from the date of receipt is 75 (seventy-five) days to 120 (one hundred and twenty) days depending upon the activities, requirement of inter-ministerial/departmental consultations and timely response from the different entities involved in the process.
Conclusion
The coming decade holds immense promise for India’s space sector, fueled by domestic minds, innovative startups, and robust government support. While the private players’ involvement in the Indian space sector is still in its nascent stage, there is no hiding the fact that the government’s commitment to nurturing innovation and enabling private sector participation will ensure a fertile ground for groundbreaking advancements. As India expands its footprint in the space economy, the next ten years will not only redefine our technological capabilities but also contribute significantly to global progress, marking this as an exciting and transformative era for the Indian space sector.