Space – Dutch Uncles

Draft National Space Transportation Policy 2020 – Norms, Guidelines, and Procedures for Space Start-ups

Aakash Sharma — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 08:35:04 +0000

Draft National Space Transportation Policy-2020 is an integrated policy covering all aspects of the aerospace industry related to emerging companies in this area. The policy includes features that constitute rocket launches, launch pads, and space objects’ movement, among many others. Through this policy, the government has decided to allow private companies to build and operate rocket launchers within the country and abroad with the prior approval of the respective bodies.

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The government’s recently announced reforms to open up the country's space sector are encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in space.

Rules specified in the Draft National Space Transportation Policy

Authority of Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Center (IN-SPACe)

As per the policy, any rocket launch by a private company (orbital or sub-orbital) can be undertaken with the Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) permission, the independent body of the Government of India.

Multi-site private launches allowed

According to the Space Transportation Policy-2020, companies can launch from privately owned sites, rental sites, or mobile launch platforms, including land, sea, or air.

Financial security

Under the draft guidelines, the IN-SPACe license requires a financial guarantee or insurance from the sponsor to meet the country’s obligations under international agreements.

Foreign laws need to be followed

In the case of launching from outside the territory of India, all approvals necessary for undertaking the scope of activities in another nation or region shall be under the applicable laws of the concerned nation/territory.

Compliance and Approval Updates

As per the draft, the proposer company shall ensure the compliance and approvals of the administration controlling the launch territory. The company must attach the certificate of conformity/license to the request of support.

Under the draft directive, the approval process will ensure that launcher exchanges at the government level do not impede the timely implementation of approved spatial plans to promote social development or safeguard national sovereignty.

India’s ‘New Space’ of Entrepreneurship

A “new space” has emerged in India, where private aerospace companies seek to unlock the commercial potential of small satellite navigation services by developing small satellite carriers for the global market. Indian players involved in space vehicle development are looking forward to using national government facilities for the same.

Investments are also being made in affordable transmission systems. As the government announces new reforms towards opening the potential of India’s space sector, it is presumed to attract entrepreneurs to fund cost-effective and quick turn-around space transportation systems for the global commercial launch services market.

More start-ups have tried to develop an autonomous space navigation system in the country in recent years, furthering the industry’s goal of promoting entry into the global navigation services market. With the new guideline, start-ups and companies have a fluid, technological and traditional way to strengthen the private ecosystem. In the long run, it will bring advanced technologies, including proprietary derivatives, that will benefit the Indian economy.

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Spacetech Start-up AgniKul Aims to Make Space Affordable in India

Aakash Sharma — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 12:35:04 +0000

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is one of the leading aerospace manufacturers in India with the goals of developing and launching its own small-lift launch vehicle, namely Agnibaan, in 2022. This space technology start-up is based out of the National Centre for Combustion R&D (NCRD) in IIT Madras.

The company was founded by Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM within IIT Madras with an initial capital of Rs 3 crore to develop and launch its first rocket, followed by the ability to provide launch services for satellites weighing up to 500 kg. As of December 2020, the company had raised about $4 million in funding and it is now under the guidance of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

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AgniKul designs, manufactures, tests and launches orbital missiles for micro and nanosatellites. The start-up's team comprises a unique combination of scientists, engineers, former bankers and space lawyers.

Women Engineers and Scientists lead AgniKul’s Chief Projects

Engineering is at the heart of what AgniKul Cosmos does. Its teams are led by young women of proven scientific courage and enthusiasm. Uma Maheshwari, Saraniya P and Arushi Chaudhary of the AgniKul Cosmos team are the heads of the company’s ground testing and production team.

Uma Maheshwari single-handedly led Agnilet, the company’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine firing. Saraniya P is the Vehicle Design Lead of Agnibaan. She leads vehicle design at AgniKul – coordinating operations across a highly diverse team base with conflicting needs. Arushi Chaudhary, the Agnibaan Avionics Systems Engineering Lead at AgniKul Cosmos, heads all the avionics systems engineering work at AgniKul.

AgniKul’s very own Launch vehicle – Agnibaan

Agnibaan, which means “arrow of fire”, is a mobile launch system that can lift payloads within a range from 100 km to 700 km. In the first phase, the rocket will be based on the payload of cluster engines in various facilities and use only liquid oxygen or kerosene engines. It is supposed to be manufactured by 3D printing to make the process steady and less costly.

Development of state-of-the-art Affordable Space Engines

In February 2021, AgniKul tested the semi-cryogenic rocket engine Agnilet, which will propel the second stage of the Agnibaan rocket in future. The machine has been developed in one piece using 3D printing with no assembled parts, making it a modern and cost-effective operation for start-ups in the aerospace technology category.

What’s in it for other space tech start-ups?

Several start-ups have grown up in the Indian aerospace and space tech sector, seeking the benefits of the growing global space domain. They have developed innovative technologies, products and services, but lack solid financial, regulatory and policy support.

In 2021, India’s start-up ecosystem for space technology witnessed mega policy support from the government and vast investor interest. After the Indian government opened up the sector to private players, investor interest increased and is expected to be successful.

Under the leadership of ISRO combined with efficient R&D, new space technology players can enter the industry and deliver economical, cost-effective and scientifically successful solutions to India’s space exploration journey.

From the development of local launch vehicles to the launch of India’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) service, from interstellar and reconnaissance missions to space exploration, the list of what lies ahead for start-ups to explore is extensive. Now there is excellent backing for new players to make it through the journey, successfully.

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Government Programmes and Schemes for Indian Space Start-ups

Aakash Sharma — Wed, 26 May 2021 05:35:04 +0000

India’s new space policy enhancements could offer exciting opportunities for space tech entrepreneurs and private space companies. Spacetech stakeholders and industry experts agree that access to government resources for private space projects will bolster the Indian space start-ups and reduce their dependence on imports.

It has been more than 50 years that the Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre have been leading Indian space programmes. To date, the ISRO alone has conducted a majority of India’s space-related activities.

But, with changing policy, private sector intervention will not be limited to the production of components anymore. The collaboration with the space agency ISRO will offer entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises opportunities to develop products and conduct indigenous space missions.

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India's space economy is $7 billion, or 2% of the world space economy. The Indian aerospace industry is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 48% over the next five years to become $50 billion.

Indian Space Start-ups working with the Government and ISRO

Satellize

Satellize is the first private company in India to have a satellite in space. In December 2018, the company launched its first satellite into space via SpaceX. It launched its second AISAT satellite for Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation India onboard the fourth stage of the ISRO’s PSLV-C45.

Agnikul Cosmos

Agnikul Cosmos is a high-tech and low-cost space satellite navigation vehicle producer. The start-up has signed a nondisclosure agreement with the Department of Space (DoS) under the newly proposed IN-SPACe entity.

Pixxel

Shortly after the announcement of space reforms by the Indian government, the Bangalore-based space start-up Pixxel got contracted by the New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. It plans to thrust the country’s first private remote sensing satellite on an ISRO PSLV rocket.

Skyroot Aerospace

Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace is developing a technology to provide adequate, reliable and cost-effective space access. The start-up is a vital rocket company that ISRO is helping with test facilities and know-how for their launch vehicles.

Bellatrix Aerospace

This start-up specialises in electric propulsion systems, rocket engines and launchers. It also signed a technological development agreement with ISRO on space electrical systems.

Greater Government Support for Indian Space Start-ups

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe)

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous extension of ISRO that enables the private sector to conduct space-related activities. IN-SPACe assesses the needs and requirements of private sector stakeholders, including education and research institutions and consults with ISRO to find ways to meet these needs.

New Space India Limited (NSIL)

New Space India Limited (NSIL) is a public corporation of the Indian government and ISRO. NSIL’s primary goal is to increase private industry involvement in India’s space programme. NSIL is set up to ensure the transfer of Small Satellite technology to industry; it will obtain a license from DoS/ISRO and sub-license the same to industry.

ISRO’s Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) for Space Education and Technology

ISRO has made national use of Atal Tinkering Labs in space education and technology a priority. ISRO is designing space education and space technology as an extracurricular activity for the schools to utilise ATLs, which will endorse the Ministry of Education to instil space entrepreneurship curiosity from a young level.

Draft Spacecom Policy 2020

Department of Space’s Draft Spacecom Policy 2020 aims to meet the country’s growing demand for space communications. In this process, the Government of India will emphasise the ease of doing business and encourage implementing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative that promotes healthy competition in the development of the national economy.

Why Should an Aspiring Entrepreneur Start a Space Start-up?

In 2018, ISRO announced its intention to launch incubators across India to support the roll-out of space technology start-ups. Such programmes working with start-ups that build newer solutions in rocketry, communication satellites and applications based on remote sensing data are also a growing incentive for new players.

With a range of government aid pouring in for the space industry, this sector is a gold mine for new entrepreneurs to start their business in. As the government rolls out initiatives such as a new launch vehicle policy and a space exploration policy, start-ups can seize the opportunity by using public resources and churn out their own model ideas.

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