Government has launched the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to promote private investment and innovation in the space sector.

IN-SPACe will facilitate and support the Private Sector in the following ways:

    • Provide technical support

    • Share cash intensive facilities

    • Allow to establish temporary facilities in DOS premises

    • Allow to bid for requirements coming from NSIL

    • Partner in science and space exploration missions

IN-SPACe is the Institutional and Regulatory mechanism established by Government to facilitate greater private participation. Financial provisions are not covered under this mechanism.

Private players can participate in:

    • Building satellites

    • Building launch vehicles

    • Carry out launches

    • Develop Applications & provide space based services

    • Develop subsystem and systems for space sector activities

About IN-SPACe

IN-SPACe is an independent nodal agency under Department of Space for allowing space activities and usage of DOS owned facilities by NGPEs as well as to prioritize the launch manifest.

It is established as a single window nodal agency, with its own cadre, which will permit and oversee the following activities of NGPEs.

    • Space activities including building of launch vehicles and satellites and providing space based services as per the definition of space activities.

    • Sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of ISRO with due considerations to on-going activities.

    • Establishment of temporary facilities within premises under ISRO control based on safety norms and feasibility assessment

    • Establishment of new space infrastructure and facilities, by NGPEs, in pursuance of space activities based on safety norms and other statutory guidelines and necessary clearances.

    • Initiation of launch campaign and launch, based on readiness of launch vehicle and spacecraft systems, ground and user segment.

    • Building, operation and control of spacecraft for registration as Indian Satellite by NGPEs and all the associated infrastructure for the same.

    • Usage of spacecraft data and rolling out of space based services and all the associated infrastructure for the same.

    • The decision of IN-SPACe shall be final and binding on all stakeholders including ISRO. NGPEs will not be required to seek separate permission from ISRO.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)