ISRO’s SSLV Technology Transfer: One will get picked, 23 companies apply
It is the first ever example where a space agency is transferring the full design of a launch vehicle to the private sector
ISRO in a bid to promote private sector’s participation in India’s space economy is going to facilitate the transfer of technology of the SSLV to one private company. This comes after the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) in July, had issues an expression of interest for technology transfer of the SSLC. Whilst, technology can be transferred to only one country, currently 23 companies have applied for the transfer.
Speaking at International Conference on Space 2023 organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka said, “With regard to SSLV’s ToT, we are transferring the launch vehicle lock, stock and barrel, as they say, completely into the hands of the private sector. It is, perhaps, the first-ever example where a space agency anywhere in the world has transferred a full design of a launch vehicle to the private sector. We had 23 companies applying for the ToT, but we will be able to give it to only one company.”
The last day for the submission of a proposal in response to the EOI is 25th September, meanwhile, screening and identifying prospective bidders will take place on 30th October.
Pawan Goenka said that the expectations from ISRO and the Indian space ecosystem on a whole have increased in the last few weeks, following the soft-landing of the Chandrayaan-3’s lander on the Moon.
“The last few weeks have been amazing, starting with the Chandrayaan-3 soft landing on the Moon, and Aditya L-1 launch, and the G-20 summit. With Chandrayaan-3, what we have achieved is extraordinary, which we have not seen in a long time and, in a sense, it has put in a lot more responsibility in the space sector. Now, the expectations from the Indian space sector are a lot more, not just from ISRO but from everyone in the space ecosystem,” Mr. Goenka said.
“We are trying to create plug-and-play infrastructure for industries. We are close to entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with one State and working with another State,” Mr. Goenka added.
ISRO, the key features of SSLV are low cost
The SSLV is a 3 stage launch vehicle capable of launching almost 500 kg satellite in a 500 kg planar orbit. According to ISRO, the key features of SSLV are low cost, with low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, launch-on-demand feasibility, and minimal launch infrastructure requirements.
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