ISRO has launched 397 foreign satellites in 10 years earning USD 441 million
ISRO LMV3
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched 397 foreign satellites over the last decade and hasearned a revenue of USD 441million, it was revealed in Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of Parliament of India.To date, ISRO has launched 432foreign satellites out of which 397 (91 per cent) have been launched in the last 10-year period.
For performing commercial missions, ISRO has been using the PSLV, its most flown rocket. The PSLV (Polar SatelliteLaunch Vehicle) also has the distinction of having launched 104 satellites in one go. This feat was achieved back in 2017.
In October last year and in March this year, India used the LVM3 rocket, the largest and most capable in its fleet, to launch commercial missions. It sent a total of 72 satellites in orbit. These were satellites from OneWeb (now Eutelsat OneWeb).
Watch | NASA's Perseverance Rover finds new clues about water on Mars
The SSLV, which is the smallest and newest in ISRO's fleet was also used to launch commercial missions this year. Its maiden flight in August 2022 was indeed unsuccessful, but the second lift-off in February 2023 was a success. India now has three rockets capable of performing commercial missions.
The information in the Indian Parliament was given by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office. India has launched satellites for countries like Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, UAE, United Kingdom and USA.
Singh added that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the Government of India Company under the Department of Space which is the Commercial arm of ISRO, has been successfully marketing Indian capabilities to launch foreign satellites.
Watch | Sun releases strongest X-class solar flare since 2017, radio blackout reported over Americas
Moreover, NSIL is working towards manufacturing the launch rocketsin order to take satellite launch business to the next level.
Right now, a consortium of Indian Government-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private firm Larsen and Toubro (L&T) is working on building a PSLV rocket.
This consortium has accepted a Rs 860 crore (approximately $105 million) contract for building five such rockets and is readying them for launch. This is part of the Indian government's effort to outsource routine and established processes to industry partners in order to support them and help ISRO to carry out scientific,technological anddevelopmental activities.
