With Eyes On Commercial Satellite Launch Market, ISRO To Conduct A Launch Exclusively For Foreign Satellites

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch a rocket exclusively carrying foreign satellites in September according to a report in the Times of India.

It will be a full-fledged commercial launch utilising the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and is being done to demonstrate its prowess vis-à-vis the growing number of rivals in the sector. The PSLV launch will carry two satellites weighing 450 kg belonging to the United Kingdom (UK). A full-fledged commercial launch is being done nearly after 10 years, the first full-fledged commercial launch having commenced in 2007.

ISRO has a success rate of 94 per cent in PSLV launches since 1993. Out of 43 launches, only three have failed. Due to the low prices and high success rate, ISRO is preferred in the global market.

Adding to its list of achievements, ISRO had recently launched a rocket carrying 104 satellites, which is the highest ever till date. Despite this, ISRO has a share of just 0.6 per cent in the global satellite launch market which is worth Rs 36,000 crore. However, SpaceX has a share of 45 per cent and is expected to go up to 60 per cent this year.

“Subsequent two PSLV missions will also carry foreign satellites. However, those missions will be on a sharing mode (it will also have an Indian satellite), ” ISRO Chairman K Sivan said.