India’s Space Diplomacy

  • A peaceful and prosperous neighborhood is critical for India’s great power aspirations. A key objective of India’s foreign policy in the region is to overcome obstacles to regional integration and to broaden the scope for cooperation without appearing hegemonic.
  • Initiatives like the “South Asia Satellite” provides a conducive means of pursuing these objectives. This project arguably is the first opportunity for India to harness its activities in outer space for distinct foreign policy goals. India first put forward the idea of a dedicated satellite for South Asia in June 2014.
  • The satellite, which was India launched in May 2017, is a geosynchronous satellite featuring twelve Ku-band transponders to facilitate a range of communications related and meteorological applications. It has a planned mission life of more than twelve years. The roughly 2-ton satellite cost an estimated 235 crore rupees (approximately $36 million), and it was built, financed, and operated by ISRO.
  • Participating states have been encouraged to provide feedback, voice concerns about the project, and send representatives to an intergovernmental team that will manage the satellite.
  • Due to the targeted exploitation of space capabilities, evidenced by the South-Asian satellites and the maturation of navigational services through the NAVIC satellite systems.
  • India is now in a position to flex its muscles in regard to space technology and applications and has reached a diplomatic vantage point.

Space Commerce

As the commercial and marketing arm of ISRO, “Antrix” is engaged in providing Space products and services to international customers worldwide. By using the launch services of ISRO’s workhorse launch vehicle, PSLV, 31 satellites belonging to 17 countries have been launched on commercial terms during the last 10 years. Additionally, the data from Indian Remote sensing satellites are commercially disseminated to users globally.

ISRO’ world Satellites Launch

  • Successful launch of W2M satellite for Eutelsat.
  • Successful supply of reliable satellite systems and sub-systems. Some of Antrix’s better known customers are Hughes, Matra Marconi, World Space etc.
  • Successful Commercial Satellite Launches of SPOT 687 (France), Pathfinder & Dove (U.S), Tecsar (Israel) Kitsat (Korea), Tubsat (DLR – Germany), BIRD (DLR – Germany), PROBA (Verhaert, Belgium) aboard the ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
  • Execution of many IOT / TTC support services to International Space Agencies. Some of the customers using Antrix services are World Space PANAMSAT, GE Americom, AFRISTAT etc.,
  • Two satellites; one from France and another from Japan were launched in September 2012.
  • Successful launch of five satellites, including French SPOT 7 satellite on 30 June 2014
  • UK based satellite launch UK-DMC 3 on 10 July 2015

Institutions

Space Research Centers in India

Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC)

  • A major space research centre of ISRO, focusing on launching rockets & satellite, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
  • The centre had its beginnings as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962. It was renamed in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

  • Headquatered at Bengaluru, with main center as Satish Dhawan Space Centre,Sriharikota, is the primary space agency of India

Major Center to Manufacture Satellites

Space Applications Centre (SAC)

  • An institution of research in Ahmedabad, India under the aegis of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
  • It is one of the major centres of ISRO that is engaged in the research, development and demonstration of applications of space technology in the field of telecommunication, remote sensing, meteorology and satellite navigation

Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota Range (SHAR)

  • A rocket launch center operated by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), currently the only “SpacePort” in India
  • Located in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, it was renamed in 2002 after ISRO’s former chairman SatishDhawan.

Master Control Facility (MCF)

  • A facility was set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Hassan, Karnataka
  • This facility is responsible for monitoring and controlling geostationary and geosynchronous satellites launched by ISRO

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)

  • This is a research and development centre functioning under ISRO, has two units located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and Bengaluru, Karnataka.
  • LPSC is augmented by ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri of Tamil Nadu.
  • Engaged in development of liquid and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles and auxiliary propulsion systems for both launch vehicles and satellites

ISRO Inertial System Unit

  • This is a research and development unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • Located in Thiruvananthapuram that specialises in inertial sensors and systems in satellite technology

National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)

  • Located at Hyderabad this facility is one of the centres of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • It acts as a key player in Earth Observation Programme and Disaster Management Support programme.
  • NRSC is responsible for acquisition, processing, supply of aerial and satellite remote sensing data and continuously exploring the practical uses of remote sensing technology for multilevel (global to local) applications.
  • It provides the necessary trained manpower through capacity building in remote sensing applications.

Development and Education Communication Unit (DECU)

  • Located in Ahmedabad.
  • This facility aims to exploit the potential of space technology as an important tool to support education and development efforts in the country (Doordarshan, social science research, Surveys & Policies etc.)

ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)

  • The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), over the years, established a comprehensive network of ground stations to provide Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) support to satellite and launch vehicle missions.
  • These facilities are grouped under ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) with its headquarters at Bangalore, India.

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