 "In a first, Isro chooses private consortium to build two satellites")
In a step towards entrusting the private sector with satellite making, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) issued a contract to a consortium of six companies to manufacture two remote-sensing satellites.
Isro will pay an undisclosed amount to the consortium for building these satellites to its specifications in the next 18 months, said a senior official with the space agency.
The companies selected are Alpha Design Technologies, New Tech Solutions, Aidin Technologies, Avantel Systems, DCX Cable Assemblies, Vinyas Innovative Technologies. Alpha, which has already been working with some defence projects and aerospace projects, will be the lead partner of the consortium.
This is part of Isro’s effort to hand over the works of making complete standard satellites for future use.
So far, firms such as Avasara Technologies, Larsen & Toubro and Godrej have supplied components and systems for the satellites Isro builds to hurl into space.
Isro Satellite Centre’s director M Annadurai said the total period given to them to build the two satellites was around 18 months. He added that Isro would shortly come out with similar assignments for some more satellites.
“Now we have got a good number of industries that have an interest in the segment. The people who have gone through this process will have one more chance to express their interest for the next project, but that will be a different satellite,” he said.
For the first two satellites, the final rundown to the selection of consortium had 17 companies participating.
The work assigned to the consortium includes assembly of the electrical and mechanical hardware, testing, and handing over the satellite for launch. The basic software both onboard and the ground is already available, which could be used by the consortium for testing of the satellite, to get the data out, etc.
To start with, the private players will be using Isro infrastructure, while the ownership will remain with the space agency.
Annadurai said the decision to outsource the manufacturing of satellites was taken after due deliberation. It will free Isro scientists for other purposes such as research & development. Involving the private sector will also result in the emergence of a set of industries that could work on the global space market, to take up orders from abroad and make satellites that are of high quality, a model the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed in the US.
Once Isro standardises a satellite, it will hand over the process to the industry, which they can replicate to make more satellites. Isro will be paying the consortium to do the first two satellites to start with. Later, there is a possibility that it can get orders from global players to make satellites. The consortium will be working under Isro's supervision, on the space agency’s premises, and there will be adequate measures to ensure security. The raw material for these two satellites will be sourced and provided by Isro.