(a) whether the Government has opened up its Space facilities for the Private Sector within the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is aware that this will reduce the role of ISRO within the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) In order to encourage and promote private space activities, access to ISRO technology, expertise and facilities which are capital intensive and otherwise not available elsewhere in the country will be given at free of cost wherever feasible or at reasonable cost to private entities.
(c) Space sector reforms will not reduce the role of ISRO within the country.
(d) With the expansion of space sector, ISRO’s major focus will be on innovation, development and qualification of cutting edge space technologies for reliable operation of space systems and also on space science and planetary exploration. Apart from this ISRO will nurture Indian space industries by sharing its experiences on quality and reliability protocols, documentation and testing procedures. ISRO will also identify areas to offer challenges to industries in new domains of technology and Announcement of Opportunity will be made for selected science and exploration missions to private industries.
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