ISRO Launches 177 Foreign Satellites In Last Five Years, Earns Over Rs 1,100 Crore In Forex

Since January 2018, ISRO successfully launched 177 foreign satellites belonging to 19 countries.

These countries include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA.

Under commercial agreement, ISRO launched these satellites on-board PSLV and GSLV-MkIII.

Foreign exchange generated through launching of these 177 foreign satellites from January 2018 to November 2022 is approximately 94 million USD and 46 million Euro.

The minister said that far-reaching reforms in the sector were announced in June 2020, with an intent to enhance participation of Non-Government Entities in the sector and bring in a commerce-oriented approach to space activities.

He added that the result of these reforms was reflected with the heaviest commercial launch by India in the form of LVM3, carrying 36 Oneweb satellites and the recent suborbital launch by an Indian Private entity, M/s Skyroot Aerospace, which was the first such instance.

“Moreover, the creation of IN-SPACe as a single-window agency for the promotion and handholding of Non-Government Entities in conducting end-to-end space activities has resulted in a remarkable interest in the Start-up community, with 111 space-startups registered, as on date, on the IN-SPACe digital platform,” he said.