2 Startups Authorised to Launch Payloads in Indian Private Space Sector

Two Indian private companies have been authorized by the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, which marks the start of private sector launches in India. IN-SPACe approved Hyderabad's Dhruva Space Pvt Ltd, and Bengaluru’s Digantara research technology Pvt Ltd to launch their payloads on 24 June.

An IN-SPACe statement on Monday stated that Dhruva Space's Dhruva Space Satellite Orbital Decloyer - (DSOD1U) was authorized. Digantara's ROBust Intuit Proton Fluencemeter (ROBI), a Proton payload, was also approved.

These payloads will fly onboard the PSLV Orbital Experimental Modul (POEM), of PSLV C53, which is scheduled to launch on June 30.

IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka stated that "The first two launch Authorisations issued by IN-SPACe is an important milestone and marks the beginning of private space sector launches in India,"

IN-SPACe (indiatoday.in) is an independent, single-window nodal agency that promotes, authorizes, monitors, and supervises the space activities of Non-Governmental Private Entities in India (NGPEs). PM Modi inaugurated In–SPACe's headquarters in Ahmedabad on June 10.

Dhruva Space, a space technology startup, focuses on space engineering solutions. It also builds application-agnostic satellite platforms.

Digantara Research and Technologies is involved in the development of end-to-end solutions for safe and sustainable space operations via its Space Situational Awareness sensor network and platform, as well as data products. PSLV-C53, the 55th ISRO mission, will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on June 30, at 18:00 IST.