By Ameya Joshi
In the first week of this month, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) announced the successful deployment into space of its TSAT-1A satellite. TSAT-1A will deliver high-resolution optical satellite images with increased collection capacity, dynamic range, and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities. This was done in partnership with a US-based company Satellogic and deployed onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is a giant leap for not just TASL but also for Indian space programs. This is a defence satellite capable of high-resolution imaging. This comes almost 50 years after India’s first satellite Aryabhatta was launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1975.
Space is one of the frontiers where ISRO has made the country proud. From the landing on the moon to missions for the study of space and launching multiple satellites that are cost-effective and world-class, the usual complaints about government organizations lacking talent and achievements have been successfully broken.
Path to privatisation
Slowly but surely, each sector linked to national security, aerospace or defence started getting privatized the world over. While space may be one of the last, the investments and interest show that it could well be one the fastest as well.
The emergence of private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic has transformed the industry by introducing innovation, competition, and commercialization. One of the most prominent players in the private space sector is SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002. SpaceX has significantly reduced the cost of space travel by developing reusable rockets such as the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. These advancements have made space missions more accessible to both governmental and commercial entities. SpaceX has not only successfully delivered payloads to orbit but has also been pivotal in resupplying the International Space Station (ISS) and facilitating crewed missions in partnership with NASA.
Similarly, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is focused on making space travel more affordable and sustainable. Blue Origin aims to create a future where millions of people live and work in space. The company has developed the New Shepard suborbital vehicle for space tourism and scientific research, with plans to launch commercial flights for paying customers. Additionally, Blue Origin is working on the New Glenn rocket, which will be capable of delivering payloads to orbit and supporting human spaceflight missions.
Virgin Galactic, led by Sir Richard Branson, is another key player in the private space sector. Virgin Galactic aims to provide suborbital space tourism experiences to the public. The company’s SpaceShipTwo vehicle has undergone successful test flights and is poised to commence commercial operations, offering customers a brief but exhilarating journey to the edge of space.
The involvement of private companies in the space program has not only driven technological innovation but has also spurred economic growth. The space industry has become a lucrative market for satellite deployment, space tourism, asteroid mining, and scientific research. Furthermore, the competition between companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic has led to cost reductions and accelerated development timelines, benefitting both government agencies and commercial customers.
Where does India stand?
Indian companies are warming up to the possibility of private involvement in space. The talent has always been restricted to government organizations and it takes time to develop talent which is inclined in space research, it is expensive to conduct this research where the outcome is often not always satisfactory.
The costs and regulatory compliances take a toll on the preparation. Space flights are inherently risky and private ones make it riskier in the absence of solid laws in place to tackle accidents and incidents.
Despite these challenges, the southern triangle of Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai are coming up as start-up capitals in this sector with companies which are working towards affordable satellite launch vehicles, small satellite launches or micro and mini satellites that last long but are cost-effective.
The challenges?
Private companies may have now become integral stakeholders in the space program, reshaping the industry and opening up new opportunities for exploration, innovation and in turn economic growth but a lot of questions remain unanswered. The rise of private companies in the space program also raises ethical and regulatory concerns. Issues such as space debris management, environmental impact, and equitable access to space must be addressed to ensure the sustainable and responsible exploration of the cosmos.
Tail note
Sputnik – the first satellite the world ever saw was launched in 1957 by the Soviet Union. India’s first satellite was launched in 1975. Inviting private enterprises to the space and aerospace program is taking giant leaps worldwide, to an extent that the almost unthinkable happened when astronauts went to the International Space Station via SpaceX’s crew dragon capsule as NASA retired all its space shuttles.
With the likes of Tata group joining the space age development, it shows that there is equal interest from long-established groups as well as startups. As humanity continues to venture further into the cosmos, a collaboration between governments and private enterprises will be essential in realizing the full potential of space exploration.
Ameya Joshi is an aviation analyst and columnist who runs the analysis website Network Thoughts
