‘Isro wants to focus more on R&D’
As it prepares for Moon and Mars missions, Isro is planning to hive off production of communication satellites and polar satellite launch vehicles (PSLV) to the industry. The space agency is keen to focus on unique science projects, develop remote sensing satellites and do more R&D instead of engaging in the repetitive exercise of building communication satellites and launch vehicles.
“We want to explore the possibility of ‘producing’ PSLV and communication satellites through the industry,” K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) told PTI in an interview here.
The Isro and its commercial arm Antrix Corporation have called for a meeting with the industry in September in Bengaluru for a dialogue on the proposal and identify different work models.
“We want to find out what models could work out and evolve a plan. There is lot of repetition in building communication satellites,” he said.
The industry participation in development of communication satellites is up to 80 per cent. If satellites and launch vehicles can be produced by industry players, Isro scientists will be able to concentrate on research-oriented activities, and have greater involvement of academic institutions.
On plans for the immediate future, Mr Radhakrishnan said Isro was developing powerful satellites which can have more number of transponders required for a slew of applications ranging from tele-medicine to DTH services. Mr Radhakrishnan said the recently launched GSAT-8 was a 6,000 watt satellite and Isro was developing a 8,000 Watt Gsat-11 which would be ready in the next two years. “In five years time, we aim to develop a 10,000 watt communication satellite which can accommodate 60-70 transponders,” he said. GSAT-8 has 24 transponders. The 10,000 watt satellite will also have the next generation high frequency Ka-band transponders. Isro has come a long way since the 1981 launch of its first geo-stationary satellite ‘Apple’ which had two transponder and a mission life of two years. On the targets for this year, Mr Radhakrishnan said Isro will launch the heaviest foreign satellite — the French-made Spot-6 — in August. This will be followed by Indo-French satellite Saral for monitoring the environment.
Comments
This is an excellent idea.
Sanjay
25 Jun 2012 - 11:52
This is an excellent idea. NASA has decided to spin off routine tasks like launch operations to Low Earth Orbit to private sector partners, so that it can focus on higher goals such as farther missions beyond Earth. The spectacular success of the SpaceX COTS2 mission to the International Space Station vindicates NASA's new approach.
Likewise, ISRO needs to draw lessons from such smart moves and imitate them. Spinning off PSLV launch operations to private sector partners will enable ISRO to focus more on developing newer technologies such as the GSLV-Mark3 and the Human Spaceflight Program. This will allow ISRO to mainly focus on covering new ground, while the private partners can do the more routine stuff.
As India faces delays in meeting long-awaited goals, it's sensible for ISRO to turn to private partners to pick up the slack. ISRO needs to pay particular attention to NASA's decision to abandon the "Cost Plus" purchasing model and the move to newer types of service contracts that are more cost-efficient for taxpayers.
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