ISRO Chief Highlights Economic Challenges in Space Sector, Urges Increased Investment from Business Leaders
ISRO Chief S. Somnath recently addressed the Indian Space Conference, voicing concern over limited investment in India’s space industry. He noted that India’s share in the global space economy is quite low and emphasized the need to inspire younger generations to enter this field.
Somnath also highlighted that for India to become a space power by 2047, significant investment from leading businesses is essential.
According to Somnath, investing in the space sector’s upstream segment—such as launch vehicles, ground-based station hardware and software, and tracking and command stations—can not only bring substantial returns to investors but also boost India’s space economy. Currently valued at $8.4 billion, India’s space economy is projected to grow to $45 billion over the next decade.
Proba-3 Mission Launch Set for December 4
India is preparing for the launch of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission, set for the first week of December from the Sriharikota space center, as announced by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh during an ISRO conference.
Dual-Satellite Mission to Study the Sun
This mission, focused on solar observation, involves two satellites, which will be launched using the PSLV-XL launcher. Once deployed, the satellites will enter a highly elliptical orbit, reaching a maximum distance of 60,000 km from Earth and a minimum of just 600 km.
From this orbit, the satellites will provide an extended view of the Sun’s corona, the outermost plasma layer of the Sun’s atmosphere—a perspective usually only available during a solar eclipse. This launch marks the first ESA mission from India since the Proba-1 Earth observation mission in 2001.
