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Dedicated Space Parks
Context:
The central government is exploring options related to the establishment of dedicated spaces for the manufacturing and production of space components.
About Dedicated Space Parks:
- It has been recommended by the Indian Space Association (ISpA), the apex industry body for space and satellite companies.
- Dedicated space parks would be used for the Indigenous development of space-based components that would reduce import bills and dependence on foreign space agencies.
- The main areas within space technology include satellite communications, earth observation, positioning and navigation, ground systems, launch vehicles, geospatial satellite services, and aerospace defence manufacturing, among others.
- These parks would also serve as a nudge for enhancing India’s share in the global space economy.
- The global space economy is projected to grow almost three times between 2023 and 2035, nearly doubling the rate of global GDP growth, according to the World Economic Forum.
- In contrast, India’s space economy is valued at 2% of the global market. The Indian government aims to increase this to $44 billion by 2033, with $11 billion expected from exports, representing a 7-8% share of the global space economy.
- India currently has around 250 startups operating in various sectors of the space economy.
- In October, the Cabinet approved a ₹1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund specifically for the space sector, managed by IN-SPACe.
- This fund is expected to run over the next five years, supporting 40 startups with strategic investments and helping to retain space companies based in India.
- In 2019, Kerala announced plans to establish a park in Thiruvananthapuram as part of a public-private partnership project. However, progress has been minimal, and the state has not yet issued the construction tender.
Private Space Parks:
Ananth Technologies has opened India’s largest private spacecraft manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The facility spans 15,000 square metres and consists of four separate modules. It is situated within the Aerospace Park managed by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board.
Role of Private Sector Under Indian Space Policy 2023:
- Non-governmental entities (NGEs) will be permitted to engage in comprehensive activities within the space sector by establishing and operating space objects, ground assets, and related services such as communication, remote sensing, and navigation. Their operations will adhere to guidelines set by IN-SPACe. NGEs are encouraged to:
- Provide national and international space-based communication services using their own, procured, or leased Geostationary (GSO) or Non-Geostationary (NGSO) communication satellites.
- Set up and manage ground facilities for space operations, including Tracking, Telemetry, and Command (TT&C) Earth Stations and Satellite Control Centres (SCCs).
- Utilise both Indian and foreign orbital resources to establish communication satellites for services within India and abroad.
- Create and operate remote sensing satellite systems using their own, procured, or leased satellites, both in India and internationally.
- Manufacture and operate space transportation systems, including launch vehicles and shuttles, while designing reusable and recoverable technologies for space transport.
- Engage in the commercial recovery of resources from asteroids or other space sources.
