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121 pvt firms help build Mars orbiter, PSLV

Last Updated 13 October 2014, 18:57 IST

It won’t be too long before big private sector industries begin to launch ISRO’s rockets if their role in the Mars mission is anything to go by.

Out of 130 firms that contributed to the making of the mars spacecraft and the PSLV rocket, 121 were from the private sector, and nine from the public sector/government. Even by ISRO standards which has been generous in permitting 50-60 per cent private sector participation in India’s space program, it was way more than that at 90-92 per cent with the mars mission. Of the 130 companies, 48 helped build the spacecraft, while 82 companies helped build the PSLV rocket.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan proffered a word of caution, “The public sector companies involved may seem numerically lower but they are the ones that build the vital systems. The private sector takes care of sub-systems and components. The idea is to go in for big-ticket launches to meet both national and international demand by melding with private sector. Whatever the ratio, ISRO drives partnership between private and public sectors and has been historically encouraging greater industry role in space.”

The contribution by private companies includes manufacturing components, sub-systems, antenna, inertial systems, composite systems, optical and science payloads, steel, forgings, rings, plates and tubes, alloys, fasteners, motor hardware and materials needed to create fuel or propellant.

“If domestic industry develops the capability to produce and manufacture space quality systems, ISRO not only saves on cost, but is assured of continuous supply and ready availability of material. ISRO can also compete with international space agencies on better terms,” said ISRO chairman explaining why the industry participation is crucial.
Prof U R Rao, former ISRO chairman pointed out that ISRO had always gone out of its way to give contracts to private companies from its early days.

“I would always say we will hand out contracts to two players so that the best product from one of them is selected. I used to also tell industry, you make money, you even make a profit, but don’t make a killing. We’re here to create, transfer and master technology for national objectives. ISRO is one among few public agencies which is generous. We have always been that,” he said.

Radhakrishnan said the Indian space agency will be creating a single entity to undertake launch missions - the entity will be a mix of public, private sectors and ISRO itself.  ISRO can then take up research and development on an extensive scale, progressing to new projects. Once launches are taken care of, advanced research in frontier areas of space can be taken up, the chairman added.

15 ongoing projects
There are 15 ongoing projects under inter-planetary space and a number of space science research projects in the field of atmospheric sciences, astronomy, planetary exploration and science payload development.

Space Vision India 2025 clearly states the need for Space science missions for better understanding of the solar system and the universe through projects like Planetary exploration, Development of Heavy lift launcher, Reusable Launch Vehicles - Technology demonstrator missions leading to Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) and Finally the Human Space Flight.

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(Published 13 October 2014, 18:57 IST)

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