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

IN-SPACe is an autonomous nodal agency, approved by the Union Government and will be governed by the Department of Space. This organisation shall act as a medium between ISRO and the private space sector in India. 

Under the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, the private parties will be allowed to perform space activities and use the equipment and facilities of the Department of Space (DoS) for launch manifest. 

This will be the first time that the infrastructure and property under the control of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be used by the private sector. 

IN-SPACe UPSC Notes PDF:-Download PDF Here

In this article, we shall discuss in detail the objective and requirement of IN-SPACe in India, and also the involvement of the private sector in the Indian space missions. This topic is important for GS II and III of the UPSC syllabus for the mains examination. 

IN-SPACe is expected to be a facilitator and regulator for the Private Space agencies and ISRO. Through this nodal agency, the Government aims at improving the overall space activities and taking the Indian Space program a step ahead. 

The main roles and responsibilities which shall be handled by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre are as follows:

• It is established as a single-window nodal agency, which will have a cadre of its own
• Private space agencies and parties will be allowed to use ISRO governed and managed equipment and use the space which is controlled by the Indian Space Organisation
• Establishment of temporary and permanent facilities, including infrastructure and safety measures will be taken up by IN-SAPCe
• Building, operation, and control of spacecraft for registration as an Indian Satellite will also be managed by this Organisation
• Rolling out of space-based activities and usage of spacecraft data will be governed by this agency 
• Making sure that any space mission which is being performed as a combined effort by ISRO and any private space company, the launch initiation will also be performed as a single combined unit only

Candidates can also refer to the articles given below and learn more about the various Indian and International space missions and satellites:

The development of this agency will bring along a major change in the Indian space program in the coming years and is going to play a very important role in the upcoming space mission by ISRO.

Discussed below is the significance of this Agency and how it will provide a broader prospect to the space mission in India:

• Equal Opportunities – When the Government and Private space sector will work together, better and broader opportunities of growth as well and employment will be generated. Apart from ISRO, other companies will also be able to bring up their ideas of space missions and a combined effort will level the playing field for all the companies
• Significant Utilisation of Space Resources – When more people will work to improve the space program, more ideas and visions will be generated. This will ultimately result in better usage of resources which are being provided for the various missions
• Broader Window for Research & Researchers – Both ISRO and private sector scientists and researchers will get more time for new developments and exploration in the sections which have not been tested yet
• Upgradation of Indian Space Program at Global level – With IN-SAPCe, the Indian space program is expected to reach newer heights with more involvement of scientists and researchers. This will result in a brighter future for ISRO and the Indian space program at the global level

Talking of the structure and composition of IN-SPACe, the Agency is going to comprise:

• A Chairman
• Technical experts for space activities
• Safety expert
• Experts from Academia and Industries
• Legal and Strategic experts from other departments
• Members from PMO and MEA of Government of India

IAS Aspirants can get the List of Indian Satellites that have been launched into space for various purposes, at the linked article. 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a process in which the facilities will be shared between them and the private space agencies. The image given below shows the same distribution:

To know more about the Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV – TD), aspirants can visit the linked article. 

With all the missions being handled by ISRO themselves, the contribution of the private sector in these space programs often goes unrecognised. Given below the important pointers to describe the contribution of private agencies in the Indian space missions:

• A large part of the manufacturing of rockets and assets is done by the private sector
• More and more research institutions have started showing involvement and interest in the space missions

Also, with the involvement of the private sector in the space missions, more capital may be generated which can expand the space missions widely. 

The demand for satellites and space assets has also been increasing with the requirement for Earth-observing satellites to monitor any natural calamity or missions to save the space assets from debris have also been initiated by ISRO. 

Considering this, more missions and ma-power may soon be required to manage the space programs. Thus, IN-SPACe will also prove to be a benefit in this department as well.

IN-SPACe, is the second space organisation which has been set up by the Union Government within two years, i.e., 2019 and 2020. 

In 2019, the Union Government approved the formation of New Space India Limited (NSIL). All the three organisations, be it, ISRO, NSIL or IN-SPACe will be working for promoting the Indian space program itself. 

• ISRO will be the main body for all the missions
• IN-SPACe will bring in a balance and act as a channel between the private and government space sector
• New Space India Limited (NSIL) will work as a marketing arm for the Indian Space Organisation

Ultimately, the main aim will be to let ISRO focus on research and private companies to collaborate with them for manufacturing and technical purposes, and focus on demand, rather than supply. 

Get the complete List of Space Centers and Indian Space Agencies at the linked article. 

IN-SPACe UPSC Notes PDF:-Download PDF Here

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