Executive Summary:
This document details India's space technology collaborations, support for the private sector, the status of the human spaceflight program (Gaganyaan), the use of indigenous technologies, the import of components, and the extent of indigenization in space technologies. It highlights collaborations with 61 countries and five multilateral bodies. The Indian Space Policy 2023 and related initiatives aim to foster a thriving space ecosystem with support for Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs). The Gaganyaan program is progressing with key milestones achieved, including the development of a Human Rated Launch Vehicle and precursor missions.
Key Points / Main Content:
International Collaborations:
* Space cooperative documents signed with 61 countries and five multilateral bodies, focusing on satellite remote sensing, navigation, communication, space science, planetary exploration, and capacity building.
* Joint satellite missions: NISAR (with NASA), TRISHNA (with CNES), and a feasibility study for a joint lunar polar exploration mission with JAXA.
* Collaboration with NASA and Axiom Space to send an astronaut to the International Space Station.
Support for the Private Sector:
* Space sector liberalized to allow NGEs to engage in full space activities.
* IN-SPACe established to promote, enable, authorize, and supervise NGE activities.
* Indian Space Policy, 2023 formulated to ensure regulatory clarity and foster a thriving space ecosystem.
* Various schemes introduced to support startups and NGEs, including Technology Adoption Fund and Venture Capital Fund. 79 MoUs were signed with NGEs, and 77 authorizations were issued as of March 31, 2025.
* One entity selected as a successful bidder for making available Indian Orbital Resources to NGEs.
* IN-SPACe facilitated two successful suborbital flights from Indian Space startups and six NGEs launched 14 satellites.
Gaganyaan Program Status:
* Integrated schedule includes three uncrewed missions and one crewed mission, plus precursor missions for Bhartiya Space Station (BAS).
* HLVM3 development and ground testing completed.
* Orbital Module propulsion systems developed and tested.
* Crew Escape System (CES) motors developed and static tested.
* Infrastructure established, including Orbital Module Preparation Facility and Gaganyaan Control Centre.
* Test Vehicle (TVD1) flight tested; activities progressing for TVD2 and IADT01.
* Ground network configuration finalized; IDRSS1 feeder stations and terrestrial links established.
* Recovery assets finalized; Recovery Plan worked out.
* First Uncrewed Mission (G1): C32G stage and CES motors realized; Crew Module and Service module structure realized.
* Towards BAS1 mission: Preliminary configuration and accommodation studies, system engineering of BAS01 module, and hardware specification identification commenced.
Indigenous Technology Utilization:
* Indigenous technologies used in remote sensing and in situ payloads, including spectrometers, cameras, and telescopes.
* Missions utilizing indigenous technologies: AstroSat, Chandrayaan 1,2,3, Mars Mission, Aditya L1, and XpoSat.
* Key indigenous developments: docking and rendezvous (Spadex), lander and rover (Chandrayaan3), and critical payloads (AdityaL1).
Imported Components:
* Some EEE components, carbon fibers, solar cells, detectors, and TWTAs are being imported.
* The Indian space program is largely self-reliant in realizing satellites and launch vehicles.
Indigenization Efforts:
* Significant progress in developing indigenous technologies, but certain parts and materials are still imported.
* ISRO has achieved capabilities in building expendable launch vehicles (up to 4.2 tonne to GTO) and satellites for various applications.
* Development of a partially reusable launch vehicle towards low-cost space access is underway, including a LOX-Methane propulsion system.
* Landing experiments of a winged body vehicle have been conducted, with autonomous runway landing achieved. An orbital flight with autonomous reentry and landing is planned.
Impact Analysis:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
* Impact: ISRO is responsible for executing collaborative missions, supporting private sector growth, and advancing the Gaganyaan program.
* Action Required: Continue to develop indigenous technologies, manage international collaborations, and support NGEs through IN-SPACe.
Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs):
* Impact: NGEs have opportunities to participate in space activities through liberalization, IN-SPACe support, and various funding schemes.
* Action Required: Engage with IN-SPACe, leverage available schemes, and comply with regulatory frameworks.
International Space Agencies (e.g., NASA, CNES, JAXA):
* Impact: These agencies collaborate with ISRO on joint missions and share expertise in space technology.
* Action Required: Continue to coordinate with ISRO on joint projects and align efforts with collaborative agreements.
General Public:
* Impact: Benefits from advancements in space technology, including improved remote sensing, communication, and navigation capabilities.
* Action Required: Stay informed about developments in the Indian space program and its impact on daily life.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO: India's primary space agency, responsible for space exploration and development.
NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar NISAR: A joint satellite mission between ISRO and NASA for Earth observation.
CNES French National Space Agency: The French government space agency, partnering with ISRO on the TRISHNA mission.
TRISHNA Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High Resolution Natural Resource Assessment: A joint satellite mission between ISRO and CNES for thermal infrared imaging.
JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency: The Japanese government space agency, involved in a feasibility study with ISRO for a lunar polar exploration mission.
Gaganyaan Programme: India's human spaceflight programme.
International Space Station ISS: A collaborative space station project involving multiple international space agencies.
Bhartiya Space Station BAS: India's planned space station.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF SPACE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 624
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025
INDIA’S SPACE TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIONS
624. DR. K SUDHAKAR:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) the details of India's space technology collaborations;
(b) the details of support given to the Private Sector to launch
large scale missions in space;
(c) the details and status of India's human spaceflight programme;
(d) the extent to which indigenous technologies in space
exploration can be used;
(e) whether there are exported components used in space
missions and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the details of extent to which the complete indigenisation in
space technologies, especially with respect to the latest and
emerging space technologies has been achieved?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC
GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
****(a) Space cooperative documents have been signed with 61
countries and five multilateral bodies. The major areas of
collaborations are satellite remote sensing, satellite navigation,
satellite communication, space science and planetary exploration
and capacity building.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is already working with
the space agency of USA (NASA) for realising a joint satellite
mission, named ‘NISAR (NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)’
which is in the advanced stages of realisation. ISRO is working with
CNES (French National Space Agency) for realising a joint satellite
mission named ‘TRISHNA (Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for
High Resolution Natural Resource Assessment)’, which is in the
initial stages. ISRO and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency) have carried out a feasibility study to realise a joint lunar
polar exploration mission. ISRO also collaborated with NASA and
Axiom Space for sending its astronaut to the International Space
Station.
(b) The details of support given to private sector to launch large
scale missions in space is as detailed below:
i. The space sector is liberalized to allow Non-Governmental
Entities (NGEs) to engage in full space activities.
ii. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre
(IN-SPACe) is established to promote, enable, authorize and
supervise the activities of NGEs.
iii. The Indian Space Policy, 2023 is formulated along with Norms,
Guidelines & Procedures (NGP) and FDI policy to ensure
regulatory clarity and foster a thriving space ecosystem.iv. Various schemes were introduced like Technology Adoption
Fund, Venture Capital Fund for Space sector, Seed Fund
Scheme, Pricing Support, Mentorship and Technical Labs to
support start-ups and NGEs in Space Sector, signed 79 MoUs
with NGEs and issued 77 authorizations as of 31.03.2025.
v. Announcement of Opportunity was made for making available
Indian Orbital Resources to the NGEs in which 1 entity is
selected as successful bidder.
vi. IN-SPACe has facilitated 2 successful sub-orbital flights from
Indian Space startups in November, 2022 and May, 2024
respectively. In addition to this, 6 NGEs have launched 14
satellites into orbit, demonstrating their capabilities.
(c) As part of approval received by the Government for Gaganyaan
Follow-on Missions leading to Precursor for Bhartiya Space
Station (BAS) – Revision in Gaganyaan Programme on 9th
October 2024, the integrated schedule includes the following:
i. Gaganyaan missions comprising of three uncrewed
missions and one crewed mission
ii. Precursor missions for BAS comprising of one crewed
mission, International Space Station (ISS) docking
mission, BAS-1 mission and BAS-1 docking mission
The current status and key milestones achieved in the Gaganyaan
programme, are as follows:
New Developments:I. Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3): Development
and ground testing completed.
II. Orbital Module: Propulsion systems for Crew Module
and Service Module developed and tested.
Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS)
engineering model realized.
III. Crew Escape System (CES): 5 types of motors
developed and static tested.
IV. Infrastructure established: Orbital Module Preparation
Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan Control
facility, Crew training facility, Second Launch pad
modifications.
V. Precursor Missions: A Test Vehicle developed for
validating CES and flight tested in TV-D1. Activities
progressing for TV-D2 and IADT-01.
VI. Flight Operations and Communication Network: Ground
network configuration finalized. IDRSS-1 feeder
stations and terrestrial links established.
VII. Crew Recovery Operations: Recovery assets finalized.
Recovery Plan worked out.
First Uncrewed Mission (G1): C32-G stage and CES motors realised.
HS200 Motors and CES Fore end up to Crew Module Jettisoning
Motor stacked. Crew Module and Service module structure realised.
Crew Module Phase-1 checks completed.
Towards BAS-1 missionI. Major activities carried out including preliminary
configuration and preliminary accommodation studies for
various systems.
II. Overall system engineering of BAS-01 module and
detailed engineering of various identified subsystems
have commenced.
III. Hardware specification identification and interface
requirements finalization are being carried out.
IV. Configuration of various systems are being finalised.
(d) Indigenous technologies can be used for space exploration in
the domain of several remote sensing and in – situ payloads. For
remote sensing, matured indigenous technologies exist for
spectrometers, cameras, telescopes, seismometers, as well as
thermal probes. Such instruments have been flown in missions like
AstroSat, Chandrayaan 1,2,3, Mars Mission, Aditya – L1, as well as
XpoSat mission.
ISRO has achieved significant achievements in the use of
indigenous technologies for space exploration missions. Some of
the key missions wherein the indigenous technologies are recently
developed are- docking and rendezvous in Spadex mission, lander
and rover in Chandrayaan-3 mission, critical payloads in Aditya-L1
mission, satellite subsystems realized for earth observation,
communication and navigation satellites, etc.
(e) While key technologies and some of the parts/ materials/
components are being realized within the country, few of the
Electrical, Electronics & Electro-Mechanical (EEE) components,carbon fibres, solar cells. Detectors, Travelling Wave Tube Amplifier
(TWTAs), etc., are being imported.
Indian Space programme is self-reliant to a large extent towards
realizing satellites and launch vehicles. As on today, the
Department is not exporting any aerospace product at any level.
(f) As mentioned above, significant amount of progress has been
achieved in terms of development of indigenous technologies.
However, certain parts/ materials/ components are being imported
for realization of the satellite systems. As on today, ISRO has
achieved capabilities in building expendable launch vehicles which
can launch up to 4.2 tonne to Geo-Transfer Orbit (GTO). ISRO has
also achieved self-reliance in building satellites for various
applications like remote sensing, communication and navigation
along with other scientific missions to the moon and Mars. With
regard to emerging space technologies, ISRO has already taken up
development of a partially reusable launch vehicle towards low-cost
access to space and for which a LOX-Methane propulsion system is
being developed by ISRO. During the past two years, ISRO
conducted landing experiments of a winged body vehicle which
performed autonomous runway landing. Further, an orbital flight of
the winged body vehicle is also planned which will perform re-entry
from an orbit and land on a runway autonomously.
****