Buoyed by a string of successful launches of foreign satellites, Indian space scientists plan to tap the emerging market in Africa in order to secure commercial contracts for manufacture and launch of satellites.
On Monday, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)’s workhorse, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C15), hoisted three satellites — ALSAT-2A of Algeria and one each belonging to University of Toronto, Canada, and University of Applied Sciences of Switzerland — taking the tally of foreign satellites launched so far to 25.
With a rocket proven for reliability and versatility, Isro’s commercial and export arm, Antrix Corporation, will make a concerted bid to bag orders to haul more satellites — small and big — into space.
“We are hopeful of tapping the market in Africa as more firms as establishing telecom and television networks there. Our rates competitive compared to other players in the business of commercial launches,” K. R. Sridhara Murthy told this newspaper.
He said the organisation will also pitch for launch of small satellites of R&D institutions and universities as more launches will enhance its chances of gaining orders for big satellites. “We also believe that a word from universities about our reliable launch vehicle will help big firms evaluate our offer positively,” he added.
As part of its strategy to gain a foothold in the billion-dollar market for manufacture and launch of satellites, Isro has invited big-ticket firms from 36 countries for a four-day conference and exhibition scheduled to be held here in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from August 25, 2010.
At 11.08 am on Monday, a group of students at an engineering college in Bengaluru broke into a celebratory jig. They had received the “all is well” message they were waiting for, the one from outer space. The communication was beamed by the first remote sensing satellite built by Indian students. A defining moment for 40 students, all aged between 20 and 22, from seven engineering colleges of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh who savoured the success of their innovative effort.