ISRO Signs Pacts With Four Countries For Launching Foreign Satellites During 2021-23, To Earn 132 Million Euros

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed six agreements with four countries for launching foreign satellites during 2021-2023, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday (16 December).

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh informed that about 132 million Euros would be earned through launching of these foreign satellites on a commercial basis.

ISRO, through its commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), has been launching satellites belonging to other countries on-board Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), on a commercial basis, said a Department of Space release.

As on date, NSIL has signed six Launch Service Agreements with customers from four countries for launching foreign satellites into space on-board PSLV during 2021-2023.

In another written reply to a similar question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Singh informed that starting from 1999 till date, a total of 342 foreign satellites belonging to 34 countries have been successfully launched on board Indian Polar satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on a commercial basis.

The minister said that through the launching of foreign satellites on-board Indian launch vehicle, India has earned a foreign exchange revenue of approximately $35 million and 10 million Euros during last 3 years (2019- 2021).

The type of foreign satellites that were launched through Indian Launch Vehicle includes satellites primarily for Earth Observation, Scientific and Technology demonstration purposes, the release said.